When is new drywall part of a City of Ottawa building permit?

Drywall becomes permit work when it is part of a larger project that itself requires a permit. The City of Ottawa's permit list includes interior and exterior structural alterations such as adding or removing walls, structural repairs or alterations, and alterations or additions to a plumbing system (except replacing existing fixtures). If new drywall goes up as part of any of those projects, the drywall is covered by the same permit.

Finishing a basement requires a permit, and adding a secondary suite or additional dwelling unit requires a permit before any work begins, even where little or no construction is proposed, because the City must review the change of use. In both cases, the drawings submitted to the City must show the wall and floor-ceiling construction between the new unit and the rest of the house.

Under the Building Code Act, a permit is also required for construction of a new building, an addition, or an alteration to any building with a building area over 10 square metres.

Where a permit applies and the work closes up walls or ceilings, the City's inspection stages include framing, insulation and vapour barrier, and a final inspection. The City advises booking inspections 48 hours in advance, and missing one may mean having to uncover and expose the work.

For work that does not fall into those categories, the picture is less clear. The City's exempt list names painting and decorating and new flooring, but does not name drywall, gypsum board, taping, patching, skim coating or popcorn removal. The City's flood-repair guidance says a permit is not required for removing drywall or other interior finish to allow insulation to dry, but putting the board back is not stated on those lists. For any of those situations, the right step is to ask the City's Building Code Services directly before the work starts.

When two written quotes arrive, set them side by side and check that each one names the same scope: what board is being removed and what is going back, the thickness and type of the new board, the finish level, the number of coats, and whether sanding, primer and paint are included or are separate line items.