How To Guides

This checklist is designed to help you be prepared and have a smooth experience when applying for a permit.

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In this tutorial we discuss the information available on Halifax.ca, our municipal website, and the Building & Development Permits webpages to better support you in competing online applications. 

Access to permitting information has been re-designed with enhanced searchability. 
We’ve added a lot of information and simplified language for enhanced accessibility and greater transparency around the permitting process. The intention is to empower you to be self-sufficient, and less reliant on calling or visiting Customer Service Centers. 

We have modernized and redesigned the permitting webpages, now referred to as Building & Development Permit Pages. 

Overall, the information on the website sets the standards for applications, transfers some of the responsibility for meeting those standards to you, and helps you plan for success.
It is important to be familiar with our webpages, so you can confidently navigate the permitting process and effectively use the Customer Portal.

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Registering for a Customer Portal Account is a simple one-time requirement. The online customer portal is accessed through Halifax.ca following links to Building & Development Permit pages.

You can initiate an account online, complete the registration and activation, and begin using your account immediately.

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The dashboard is the landing page of your Customer Portal Account. 
It serves three main purposes: 

1. Apply for permits or estimate permit fees
2. Monitor existing permits
3. Manage your account

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In this module we will review Contractors: what contractors means, how they register in the system, how they can use the system, and understand who is responsible for managing the contractor profiles.

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This module walks through applying for a permit and highlights key fields to be completed. It also shows how to upload required documents as part of the application, and the payment process.

Each permit type has different application questions but the application steps remain the same for all permit types. 

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In this module we introduce the concepts and structure of the system. There are many concepts and principles presented in this module that are integral to understanding how the permitting and inspections system works.

We will introduce some of the features that make the system an efficient tool for online registration and permit management.

We’ll discuss the changes that were introduced as part of the project and the benefits we hope to realize as a result of these changes. 

The migration to the new system will not happen overnight. We will present a summary of what the migration will look like and how that might impact your work.

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Here's a series of documents that will help you navigate the system:
Before You Begin (PDF)
How to Register a Customer Portal Account (PDF)
How to Apply for a Permit Online (PDF)
How to Create a Contractor Profile (PDF)
How to Navigate the Customer Portal/Dashboard (PDF)
How to Add an Address (PDF)
How to Add an Address with Multiple Addresses (PDF)
How to Upload Documents (PDF)
How to Request Inspections (PDF)
How to Pay Fees on a Saved Permit (PDF)
How to Submit a Withdraw and Request a Refund (PDF)
How to Submit a Location Certificate (PDF)
How to Apply for a Backyard Suite Permit (PDF)
How to Apply for a Secondary Suite Permit (PDF)
How to Change an Applicant or Contractor after the Permit is Issued (PDF)
How To Print an Issued Permit in the Customer Portal (PDF)
How To Print a Final Certificate from the Customer Portal (PDF)
How to Find a Permit That is no Longer Visible in the Dashboard (PDF)

Supporting documents are always required as part of making a permit application. Automated workflows have been built to expedite the application process when customers use the document naming convention.

Document Naming Conventions [PDF]

The Occupancy Grid is a critical input for all Building Permits and the Occupancy permit. Business rules are directly related to the information in the grid. 

This guide walks through all aspects of the Occupancy grid and includes definitions and examples to assist with the permit application process. 

When is a permit required? View Permit Types for a list of permit types and when they are required. 

All permit applications require customers to answer questions about the type of work they are applying for. The type of work must be consistent with the type of permit being applied for. View full list of Type of Work Descriptions.

All building permit applications require customers to answer questions about the type of work and type of structure they are applying for. The type of work and structure must be consistent with the type of permit being applied for.  
View full list of Type of Structure Descriptions.

For Multi-Unit Residential, Institutional, Commercial and Industrial Projects