What does the City of Richmond Hill require before demolishing a house?

The demolition permit

Under the Ontario Building Code Act, demolishing a building of the size of a house requires a permit from the local building department. In Richmond Hill that is the City's Building Services division. The application asks who owns the property, who is doing the work and what is coming down, and it normally includes a site plan showing the structure and anything you are keeping.

If you are building a new home on the same lot, the demolition permit is often applied for alongside, or just before, the building permit. Your designer or builder can usually tell you which order the City expects for your project.

Utility disconnections

The City's demolition application checklist and supplementary form set out application requirements and utility coordination. Arrange each provider's work early and obtain completion confirmation before demolition. Services to address include:

• Natural gas, disconnected and removed at the meter by Enbridge Gas
• Electricity, disconnected by the local utility, Alectra
• Water and sanitary services, capped at the property line as the City directs
• Telephone, cable and internet lines, disconnected by each provider

Designated Substance Survey

Where OHSA applies, section 30 requires the owner to find out which designated substances, such as asbestos, lead and mercury, are present before demolition work is tendered, and to give that list to contractors. Asbestos found in the survey is removed under O. Reg. 278/05 before the machine arrives.

Houses built before the 1990s are the most likely to contain asbestos in things like vermiculite insulation, old flooring, plaster and pipe wrap, but a survey is the only way to know.

Trees, heritage and other checks

Richmond Hill's tree preservation by-law protects trees above a set size on private property, and removing or injuring one needs a City permit. Trees you keep need hoarding during demolition. If the house is on the City's heritage register or in a heritage district, demolition needs heritage review first. Lots near the Oak Ridges Moraine or a watercourse may also fall under the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. See our guide on how the tree by-law affects a teardown.

What this business does about it

At the site visit we walk through each of these items with you and note which ones apply to your lot. We plan the demolition around protected trees and neighbours and keep work within the City's construction hours. Once the paperwork is in place, our crew handles the residential demolition and the site clearing that follows. If you are just starting to plan, request a free estimate and we will book a visit.