Who applies for the demolition permit in Vaughan?

The owner or an agent acting for the owner applies to the City of Vaughan's Building Standards department.

Is a designated substance survey always required?

Section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the owner to determine whether designated substances are present before tendering the project. In practice, that means a survey for almost every demolition.

Does every demolition need a Notice of Project?

No. It depends on the type of work and the project's size against the Ministry's threshold. Your contractor can tell you whether yours qualifies.

Can demolition start the day the permit is issued?

Only if everything else is in place, including utility disconnections, the survey and any asbestos removal.

Permits and rules

What does the City of Vaughan require before a structural demolition?

Vaughan permits
structural demolition
OHSA

Published September 24, 2026

Yellow excavator pulling down the timber roof structure of a large building, with twisted metal cladding in the foreground

Before a structure comes down in Vaughan, you need a demolition permit from the City's Building Standards department, confirmed utility disconnections and a designated substance survey under section 30 of Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act. Cultural Heritage clearance is required before applying for the demolition permit. Depending on the building and work, you may also need tree permits, an engineered demolition plan and a Notice of Project filed with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

This guide walks through each item, what it depends on and who usually handles it. It applies to houses, commercial buildings and industrial buildings inside the City of Vaughan.

The demolition permit

The Ontario Building Code Act requires a permit to demolish a building, and in Vaughan that permit is issued by the City's Building Standards department. The application is made by the owner or their agent and usually includes a site plan showing the building to be removed, the owner's authorization and confirmations that services have been disconnected.

The exact checklist can change, so always confirm the current requirements with Building Standards before you apply. The permit has to be issued before demolition starts, and the permit card is normally posted on site.

Utility disconnections

Gas, electricity and water have to be shut off and disconnected before a building is taken down. The owner requests these from the providers: Enbridge Gas for gas, Alectra Utilities for electricity in most of Vaughan, and the City for water. Telecom providers should be notified too.

The City generally wants written confirmation of the disconnections with the permit application. Disconnections can take time to schedule, so request them early.

The designated substance survey

Section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the owner to find out whether designated substances are present on a project and to list them in the tender documents before contractors price the work. For demolition, the most common concerns are asbestos, lead, mercury and silica.

If asbestos is found, O. Reg. 278/05 sets out how it has to be removed, and that work happens before general demolition. The survey is done by a qualified consultant, not by the demolition contractor.

Asbestos: common in older insulation, flooring, ceiling texture and cement products
Lead: common in older paint
Mercury: found in thermostats and fluorescent tubes
Silica: present in concrete and masonry, controlled during cutting and breaking

Heritage clearance and other property approvals

Vaughan requires Cultural Heritage clearance before any demolition permit application. The City's heritage review guidance explains the additional review that may apply to designated or listed properties and heritage conservation districts. Trees on or near the work area may be protected under the City's tree protection by-law, and removing one without a permit can lead to fines. Work near a watercourse or valley may fall under the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Engineered plans and Notice of Project

Ontario's construction regulation, O. Reg. 213/91, sets out how demolition has to be carried out safely. For larger or more complex structures, a written demolition plan is used, and a professional engineer is brought in where the building's stability during removal needs design. The City may also ask for one as part of the permit.

Many demolition projects also need a Notice of Project filed with the Ministry before work begins. Whether yours does depends on the type of work and the project's size against the Ministry's threshold.

What we do about it

At the site visit, we go through each of these items for your building and tell you in the written scope which ones sit with you and which sit with us. Our structural demolition and residential demolition pages explain how the work itself is carried out once the paperwork is in place. When you're ready, request a free estimate and we'll book the site walk.

Frequently asked questions

Who applies for the demolition permit in Vaughan?: The owner or an agent acting for the owner applies to the City of Vaughan's Building Standards department.
Is a designated substance survey always required?: Section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the owner to determine whether designated substances are present before tendering the project. In practice, that means a survey for almost every demolition.
Does every demolition need a Notice of Project?: No. It depends on the type of work and the project's size against the Ministry's threshold. Your contractor can tell you whether yours qualifies.
Can demolition start the day the permit is issued?: Only if everything else is in place, including utility disconnections, the survey and any asbestos removal.