Ontario
The Ontario Building Code (OBC) is organized into two volumes. It was published in 2012 but has had 31 amendments. The OBC references several other documents including acts and standards. Some documents in the TraxCodes Library contain references to the OBC and the National Building Code of Canada.
The following documents for Ontario are available in full in the TraxCodes Library:
Ontario Building Code - Volume 1, O. Reg. 332/12
Ontario Building Code - Volume 1, O. Reg. 332/12 is a regulation under the Building Code Act which sets out minimum administrative and technical requirements for new construction, renovation and change of use of buildings. The Building Code is divided into several parts, including compliance, acceptable solutions, and alternative solutions.
Ontario Building Code - Volume 2
Volume 2 of the Ontario Building Code Compendium features Supplementary Standards, Appendix Notes, and a Guide to the use of the code. Supplementary Standards provide further technical requirements and guidance on specific topics. For example, Supplementary Standard SB-10 provides energy efficiency requirements for buildings.
Building Code Act of Ontario, 1992, S.O. 1992, c. 23
The Building Code Act of Ontario sets out the rules for the administration and enforcement of the Building Code in Ontario. The Building Code sets out technical and administrative requirements for the construction, renovation, change of use and demolition of buildings. The Act provides for the appointment of building officials to enforce the Building Code and sets out their powers and duties. It also provides for the issuance of building permits, inspections, and orders to comply with the Building Code.
Ontario Fire Code, O. Reg. 213/07
The Ontario Fire Code is a regulation under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997 (FPPA) that applies across Ontario. It consists of a set of minimum requirements for fire safety within and around existing buildings and facilities. The owner of the building is responsible for complying with the Fire Code, except where otherwise specified. Municipal fire departments enforce the Fire Code.
Fire Protection and Prevention Act of Ontario, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 4
The Fire Protection and Prevention Act of Ontario creates the framework for fire protection in Ontario. This act addresses subjects such as municipal responsibilities for Fire Protection Services, the appointment and powers of the Fire Marshal, establishing the Fire Code, rights of entry in emergencies and fire investigations.
OBOA Ontario Inspectors’ Quick Start Guide
The OBOA Ontario Inspectors’ Quick Start Guide is a great resource for building departments, developed by the Pine Ridge Chapter in coordination with the OBOA to assist inspectors, especially newer ones, with core review components for house inspections.
Integrated Accessibility Standards, O. Reg. 191/11
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg. 191/11) under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) outlines accessibility standards for organizations in Ontario in the areas of information and communications, employment, transportation, and design of public spaces. The regulation applies to the Government of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly, every designated public sector organization and to every other person or organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public or other third parties and that has at least one employee in Ontario.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) is a law that sets out a process for developing and enforcing accessibility standards. The goal for the province is to be fully accessible by 2025. All levels of government, private sectors, and non-profits must comply with this legislation. Persons with disabilities and industry representatives work together with the government to develop the standards.
City of Toronto Act
The City of Toronto Act sets out the rules for the City of Toronto and reflects the city’s status as Ontario’s largest municipality. In addition to broad powers to pass bylaws and govern within its jurisdiction, the act gives Toronto expanded taxation powers.
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act ensures communities protect their municipal drinking water supplies by developing collaborative, watershed-based source protection plans. The Act created source protection areas and source protection regions. The Act also created a local multi-stakeholder source protection committee for each region. These committees identify significant existing and future threats to their municipal drinking water sources and develop plans to address those threats.
Environmental Assessment Act
The Environmental Assessment Act sets out a planning and decision-making process so that potential environmental effects are considered before a project begins. The act applies to provincial ministries and agencies, municipalities such as towns, cities, and counties, and public bodies such as conservation authorities and Metrolinx. Examples of projects include public roads and highways, transit projects, waste management projects, water and wastewater works, resource management, and flood protection projects.
Environmental Protection Act
The aim of the Environmental Protection Act is to protect and conserve our natural environment. The act includes provisions on vehicles, waste management, renewable energy, spills, and it covers the prohibition, reporting, and handling of contamination.
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest.
Conservation Authorities Act
The Conservation Authorities Act was created by the Ontario Provincial Legislature in 1946 to ensure the conservation, restoration and responsible management of hydrological features through programs that balance human, environmental and economic needs. Conservation authorities are governed by the Conservation Authorities Act which is administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF).
Planning Act
The Planning Act is provincial legislation that sets out the ground rules for land use planning in Ontario. It describes how land uses may be controlled and who may control them. The purpose of the Act is to provide for planning processes that are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient.
Municipal Act
The Municipal Act is the main statute governing the creation, administration and government of municipalities in Ontario, other than the City of Toronto which is governed by the City of Toronto Act. It sets out rules for 443 of 444 Ontario municipalities and recognizes them as a responsible and accountable level of government. The act gives municipalities broad powers to pass bylaws and govern within their jurisdiction.
Ontario Planning and Development Act
The Ontario Planning and Development Act allows for development planning areas to be established and specifies the processes to create development plans and outlines their contents.
Building Transit Faster Act
The Building Transit Faster Act aims to help deliver Ontario's four priority subway projects on-time and on-budget by giving the province the tools to expedite the planning, design and construction process. The act provides for measures such as streamlining the land assembly process, coordinating utility relocations, and ensuring timely access to municipal services and rights-of-way.
Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act
The Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act provides for the acquisition of land for public transportation and highway purposes, the construction and maintenance of highways and other works, and the control of traffic on highways.
Child Care and Early Years Act
The Child Care and Early Years Act establishes the rules for child care and early years programs and services in Ontario to support the health and safety of children, provide for oversight of providers, and help parents make informed choices about child care options.
Nutrient Management Act
The Nutrient Management Act provides for the management of materials containing nutrients in ways that will enhance protection of the natural environment and provide a sustainable future for agricultural operations and rural development. The management, land application and storage of nutrients that are applied to agricultural land are regulated under the Nutrient Management Act. This includes materials generated on farms such as manure and animal bedding, and materials generated by non-agricultural operations such as sewage biosolids, pulp and paper biosolids and other by-products that benefit crop growth.
Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act
The Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act creates statutory warranties that all builders and vendors of new homes must provide to homeowners. These warranties include that homes are fit for habitation and constructed in accordance with applicable standards.
Development Charges Act
The Development Charges Act enables municipalities in Ontario to impose development charges against land to pay for increased capital costs required arising from infrastructure development of the area to which the by-law applies. Development charges are used to recover the capital costs associated with residential and non-residential growth within the municipality.
Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act
The Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act directs that the Niagara Escarpment is to be maintained as a continuous natural environment with only compatible development. The Niagara Escarpment Plan, established under the Act, is considered to be Canada’s first land use plan with environmental protection as its primary objective.
Public Lands Act
The Public Lands Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. P.43) is an act that governs the administration and control of public lands in Ontario. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) manages Crown Land in Ontario and has charge of the management of activities, sale and disposition of public lands and forests. There are some exceptions, including provincial parks and conservation reserves.
Legislation Act
The Legislation Act, 2006 (S.O. 2006, c. 21, Sched. F) is an act that sets out general rules for the interpretation and application of Ontario's laws and regulations. It includes provisions on how laws and regulations are cited, when they come into effect, how they are published, and how they can be amended or repealed.