Every so often, a client gets their permit drawings and asks, “So where are the cabinet elevations?” or “What colour should we paint the living room?” Fair questions — just not for us. Being clear about this upfront saves everyone time, money and frustration.
What We Do
Our job is to get your project designed, coordinated and permitted in line with the Ontario Building Code and the local zoning by-law. That means:
- Unit layouts, room sizes and ceiling heights
- Fire separations, exits and egress
- Natural light, ventilation and window requirements
- Coordinating structural, HVAC, energy and other consultants
- Preparing permit drawings and working with examiners until the permit is issued
Everything we draw is driven by one question: does it meet code and get approved?
We’re Not Kitchen Designers
For permit purposes, we lay out each kitchen at a basic level. Most importantly, we show the plumbing fixtures, because they affect drainage and venting, and the basic appliance locations.
From the City’s point of view, a kitchen needs the essentials: a sink, space for a stove and a fridge, and the required exhaust. The City doesn’t review cabinet styles, countertop materials or island shapes.
What we don’t do:
- Cabinet layouts, elevations or shop drawings
- Countertop, backsplash or hardware selections
- Appliance specifications or finishes
That’s the kitchen supplier’s job. Once you have our drawings, hand them to your kitchen company. They’ll design the cabinetry within the space we’ve planned. If they want to move the sink or add fixtures, talk to us first — moving plumbing can affect the permit.
We’re Not Interior Designers
We design to meet the Building Code. That’s what drives our decisions throughout the process.
If you’re looking for help with:
- Paint colours and finishes
- Flooring, tile and fabric selections
- Lighting fixtures and decor
- Furniture layouts and styling
…that’s the role of an interior designer. They’re great at it, and it’s a different skill set from code-driven building design.
We’re Not Landscape Designers Either
We show site information that the permit needs, such as the building footprint, walkways, parking and grading information from the survey or civil engineer.
We don’t design gardens, planting plans, patios or outdoor living spaces. On projects that require site plan approval, a landscape architect is usually part of the consultant team — we coordinate with them, but we’re not them.
Why This Matters
- It keeps our fees focused. You pay for the expertise that gets your permit issued, not for services you could get better elsewhere.
- It avoids misunderstandings. Knowing what’s included means no surprises when drawings arrive.
- It gets you better results. Kitchen suppliers, interior designers and landscape designers specialize in exactly what they do.
We Can Connect You
While these services aren’t included in our fees, we work with kitchen suppliers, interior designers and landscape professionals we trust. If you need one, just ask — we’re happy to make an introduction.
Final Thoughts
Think of us as the team that gets your building legal, safe and permitted. Once the permit is in hand, the people who make it beautiful take it from there.
Have a project that needs permit drawings? Get in touch, and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s included.
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