In the interests of…

In the interests of conserving and repurposing Ontario’s existing building stock and supporting the creation of new infill buildings, reducing demolition waste and its impact on landfill, and reducing carbon emissions, we propose the following amendments to the Ontario Building Code:

1. Similar to existing 19th century main streets, permit new buildings up to 12m wide and three stories in height to have a single exit stair.

2. Introduce a 60-day notice period for an Application to Demolish (Building Permit) under the Ontario Building Code.

60 days notice would give municipalities time to:

o Assess the potential cultural value of existing buildings
o Consider relative carbon values of the existing buildings versus their demolition and replacement structures
o Consider options for re-use of the existing buildings
o Ensure material reclamation from the demolition waste stream