← Ontario Building Code FAQ
OBC DIVISION B · PART 3 · SECTION 3.14 — TENTS AND AIR-SUPPORTED STRUCTURES

When does a tent need a building permit in Ontario?

A building permit is generally required for a tent or group of tents larger than 60 m² (about 646 sq ft) in aggregate ground area, or one attached to a building or closer than 3 m to other structures. Smaller, detached, well-separated tents are exempt.

Code reference
Tents are subject to the Building Code Act permit requirement unless they fall within the code's exemption, which covers tents of limited aggregate ground area, not more than one storey, not attached to a building and located a minimum distance from other structures. Tents requiring a permit must comply with Section 3.14, covering materials, siting, egress and structural safety.
OBC Division B, Section 3.14 (Tents and Air-Supported Structures); permit exemption criteria in the OBC

Paraphrased for clarity — open this provision in the BUILDAiD Library for the exact wording.

What this means in practice

The 60 m² figure is aggregate: several smaller tents grouped for one event can collectively exceed the threshold and require a permit, a detail event organizers routinely miss. Municipalities process large-event tent permits on tight timelines, so apply weeks ahead and expect to submit manufacturer specifications, flame resistance certification and, for larger tents, engineered anchorage documents. Section 3.14 applies whether the tent stands for a weekend or a season, and air-supported structures such as sports domes fall under the same section with additional requirements for envelope and mechanical inflation systems.

Plain language

Small party tents usually do not need a permit in Ontario, but once a tent, or a cluster of tents together, is bigger than about 60 square metres, or sits close to buildings, you need a building permit before it goes up.

Related questions

What flame resistance standard must tent fabric meet in Ontario?What clearance and exit requirements apply to tents in Ontario?How is the occupant limit for an event tent determined in Ontario?

Get answers like this for any code question

BUILDAiD Assist searches the building code and answers in plain English with exact citations — in seconds.

Try BUILDAiD Beta

This page is provided for general information. Building code requirements depend on your specific project, occupancy and municipality, and code editions change. Always verify requirements against the current Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.