What Is a City Order to Comply in Ontario?

Updated: June 2026

Receiving an Order to Comply from a municipality can be stressful and confusing. Many property owners are unsure what the notice means, how serious the issue is, and what steps must be taken to avoid fines, delays, or further enforcement.

In Ontario, a municipality may issue an Order to Comply when a property, building, renovation, business space, or construction project does not meet applicable permit requirements, building regulations, property standards, or safety expectations.

What Is an Order to Comply?

An Order to Comply is an official notice issued by a municipal inspector or enforcement officer requiring corrective action within a specific time frame. The order usually identifies the issue, references the applicable requirement, and explains what must be corrected.

Depending on the circumstances, the order may relate to work completed without a permit, unsafe building conditions, property standards concerns, missing inspections, occupancy problems, fire safety deficiencies, or construction that does not match approved drawings.

Common Reasons Orders Are Issued

Orders to Comply can be issued for many different reasons. Some of the most common include:

• Renovations or additions completed without a building permit
• Open building permits that were never closed
• Commercial renovations completed without proper approval
• Unapproved basement apartments or second dwelling units
• Structural changes completed without engineering review
• Fire separations or life safety systems that do not meet requirements
• Electrical deficiencies identified by ESA
• Occupancy or change-of-use issues
• Property standards violations
• Construction that does not match approved permit drawings

Who Can Issue an Order to Comply?

The authority depends on the type of violation. In many cases, the notice may come from one of the following:

• Municipal Building Inspector
• Property Standards Officer
• Fire Prevention Officer
• By-law Enforcement Officer
• Health Inspector
• Other municipal enforcement department

What Happens If You Ignore an Order?

Ignoring an Order to Comply can make the situation more expensive and more difficult to resolve. Municipalities may take further action if the owner does not respond or complete the required corrections.

• Additional inspection fees
• Municipal fines or penalties
• Provincial offences charges
• Stop Work Orders
• Delays in selling, refinancing, or leasing the property
• Difficulty obtaining occupancy approval
• Further enforcement action by the municipality

How to Respond to an Order to Comply

The first step is to carefully review the notice and identify the deadline, the issuing department, the specific violations, and the required corrections. From there, you may need to coordinate professionals depending on the scope of work.

Recommended steps:

• Read the order carefully and confirm the deadline
• Contact the issuing department if clarification is needed
• Collect permits, drawings, inspection reports, and previous approvals
• Schedule a site review if construction corrections are required
• Determine whether engineering, architectural, ESA, fire, or trade work is required
• Submit documents or permit applications where necessary
• Complete the corrective work
• Book final inspections and request confirmation that the order has been satisfied

How Ontario Compliance Can Help

Ontario Compliance helps property owners, landlords, businesses, and property managers organize the process and coordinate the required corrections. Our role is to help move the file from violation notice to a practical compliance solution.

We can assist with:

• Reviewing Orders to Comply and inspection comments
• Coordinating contractors and licensed trades
• Building permit applications and permit closure support
• Engineering and drawing coordination
• ESA corrections and electrical deficiency coordination
• Fire Code and life safety correction support
• Structural repairs and general contracting services
• Municipal inspection coordination

Need Help With an Order to Comply?

If you received a City Order to Comply, Building Code violation, Fire Code notice, ESA deficiency, or permit-related order, contact Ontario Compliance for professional guidance.