Stair lift in an Ottawa home: do I need a City permit?

Stair lifts are not on the City of Ottawa's published list of projects that require a permit, and they are not on the list of projects that are exempt either. That means the permit question is genuinely open, and the right move is to ask the City's Building Code Services before work starts.

The answer can shift depending on what the installation involves. Work that opens a wall or floor may be a structural alteration, which is on the City's permit list; the City decides, not the installer. Ask the contractor exactly what the installation touches, then put that description to the City.

Ontario Regulation 209/01 and the TSSA

On the provincial side, Ontario Regulation 209/01 under the Technical Standards and Safety Act covers stair chair lifts and stair platform lifts, but the Regulation does not apply to elevating devices in or in connection with a private dwelling house used exclusively by the occupants and their guests, unless the owner requests in writing that it apply. The TSSA publishes a questionnaire to determine whether a property counts as a private dwelling house for this purpose. If your home is rented, shared, or partly open to the public, that questionnaire is worth reviewing before assuming the exemption applies. TSSA licenses elevating-device contractors and mechanics for the devices its Regulation covers.

A few things to confirm before the work begins:

• Ask the City's Building Code Services whether the specific installation, given what the contractor says it involves, requires a permit.
• Check the TSSA's questionnaire if there is any question about whether your home qualifies as a private dwelling house under the Regulation.
• Ask the contractor in writing what structural or wall work, if any, the installation requires, so you have a clear description to give the City.

The owner and the builder are equally responsible under the Building Code Act for making sure a permit is obtained when one is required, so confirming this before installation, not after, is the practical step.

Before the installer starts, ask them to put in writing exactly what the installation touches structurally, so you can give the City a precise description and get a clear answer on the permit question.