An Order to Comply is a formal notice issued by a municipality’s Chief Building Official under the Building Code Act, S.O. 1992. It identifies construction or renovation work completed without the required building permit and directs the property owner to correct the contravention by a specified deadline.

Any property owner in Ontario — residential, commercial, industrial — can receive an Order to Comply if work was completed on their property without a building permit, regardless of who did the work or when.

Yes. The Order to Comply is attached to the property, not the individual who completed the work. If you purchase a property with existing unpermitted work, you become responsible for resolving it regardless of how long ago the work was done.

If you are a commercial or residential landlord and your tenant completes any work that is deemed non-compliant to the Ontario Building Code, the landlord and not the tenant will be held liable.

Ignoring an Order to Comply can result in significant fines under the Building Code Act, forced remediation at the owner’s expense, legal proceedings by the municipality, restrictions on the use or sale of the property and can be registered on the property title.

Resolving an Order to Comply typically requires retaining a licensed architect or engineer to produce permit drawings, coordinating all the necessary drawings required, submitting a complete permit application to the municipality, coordinating with the City’s Building Department, obtaining a permit and coordinating the necessary inspections for final permit sign-off confirming compliance.

Timelines vary depending on the municipality, the nature of the work, and the complexity of the permit drawings required. Most straightforward matters can be resolved within four to twelve weeks of submitting the permit application.

Obtaining a permit is one step in the process. Resolving an Order to Comply in its entirety requires satisfying the City’s Authority Having Jurisdiction — including inspections and sign-off — that all contraventions have been corrected. OTC Resolved manages the full process, not just the permit application.

The AHJ refers to the Building Officials and inspectors employed by the municipality who review permit applications, conduct inspections, and confirm that work meets Ontario Building Code requirements before closing a permit file.

Costs vary depending on the complexity of the violation and necessary required approvals. Our fees are fixed, transparent and no hidden surprises.

OTC Resolved manages the complete Order to Comply resolution process: reviewing the order, coordinating licensed professionals to prepare permit drawings, submitting the permit application, liaising with the City’s Building Department, coordinating inspections, and confirming final resolution.

OTC Resolved handles a wide range of contraventions including unpermitted structural work, additions, basement apartments, change of use, mixed use buildings, multi-unit dwellings, rooming houses, decks, garages, electrical violations in coordination with the Electrical Safety Authority, and plumbing and HVAC work completed without permits.

No. OTC Resolved manages all communication with the City and coordinates all required professionals. You are kept informed at key milestones, but you do not need to manage the day-to-day process.

OTC Resolved currently serves all of Southern Ontario, including Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, Orillia, Barrie, Bracebridge and beyond. Contact us directly for locations outside these areas.

OTC Resolved can assess whether a property is exposed to building violations due to past or present unpermitted work — providing realtors with reliable compliance data before a transaction closes.

Yes. OTC Resolved provides comprehensive building compliance assessments across multi-unit portfolios, identifying code non-compliance and developing remediation strategies for each property.

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation or call 647-873-5543. You can also email your Order to Comply directly to HELLO@OTCRESOLVED.COM for a free estimate and initial assessment.