The City of Burlington’s Community Planning Department is accepting online submissions for Pre-Building Approval Review. Hard copy submissions are not being accepted at this time.
1. Complete the Pre-Building Approval Process Application Form
- Please download and complete the Pre-Building Approval application form for Residential Applications (10 units or less)
- This form can also be used to apply for a Grading and Drainage Clearance Certificate and/or a Tree permit with a Zoning Clearance Certificate.
- Please review the zoning, engineering and forestry checklists and FAQ documents prior to applying.
- Please review the fee schedule before you apply.
- If you application does not meet submission standards or is incomplete, it cannot be accepted. This will slow down your application review and approval.
2. Email completed form
Email your completed application form for your Pre-Building Approval Process to zoning@burlington.ca
3. Staff will check your Application for Completion
Our application review process may take several days. We need to make sure that your application is complete. We will let you know if we need additional supporting documentation to support your application and will ask you to resubmit your application if necessary. We cannot consider an application complete until we have received all the required documents from you.
4. Application Pre-Screen
Your application will be scheduled for review during our weekly pre-screen meeting. Subject Matter Experts from Zoning, Engineering and Forestry will review your application for completeness.
5. Application File Number and Payments
When your application has been deemed complete, we will give you an application file number which you can use to track the progress of your application and let you know about your fees. E-Transfers are our preferred payment method and must be sent from a bank that recognizes auto-deposit.
6. Application Review and Progress Tracking
- Community Planning will send your application to Zoning for review. We will also share it with Engineering and Forestry if you've applied for their permits with your Pre-Building Approval Application. During the application review process, you will be communicating with staff from zoning, engineering and forestry separately. The process has been updated by “un-consolidating” the review of the applicable Zoning Bylaw, Grading and Drainage Bylaw, and Tree Bylaw to help speed up when you can apply for a building permit.
- During the review process, you can track the progress of your pre-building approval application using the myfiles pre-building approval application portal and your provided application file number.
- Application process is:
- Once you have received your Zoning Clearance Certificate Approval, you can apply for building permit.
- Once you have received your Grading and Drainage Certificate Approval, your building permit may be issued.
- Once you have received your Tree Permit, you may start construction.
