Planning a deck, garage or another home project this spring? Greater Sudbury's Permit Palooza is a chance to ask City staff how to prepare an eligible permit application. I would use it to start the paperwork properly, not assume a permit will be issued on the spot.
What the April 25 and 26 event offers
The City's third annual Permit Palooza announcement says staff will be at the Home, Renovation and Style Show at the Sudbury Community Arena from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on both days. Eligible, complete applications can use an expedited process. You need to set up a Pronto account and prepare the application before going; the event is not a promise that every permit will be issued.
The City's eligible-project list includes weeping tile, single-level attached or detached decks, siding, detached garages under 55 square metres without an additional dwelling unit, above-ground pools, and sheds over 15 square metres. Check the City's full criteria for your particular project. If your work does not fit, the regular building-permit process is still the place to start.
Why I ask homeowners to keep the permit file
Permit questions can surface years later, just as someone is buying, refinancing or selling. November 2025 reporting on a Council meeting quoted a local lawyer's estimate that permit questions arose in about one-third of residential transactions. It also reported roughly 17,300 open files among almost 42,000 permits issued since 1980, with about 15,000 open files predating 2022. Those are reported figures from that meeting, not a current April 2026 census or proof that those homes have unpermitted work.
An open file can have several explanations, including an inspection or administrative step that has not been closed out. It is a reason to ask the City about the specific file, not to assume a defect or a title-insurance result. I explain that distinction further in my title-insurance and permit-concerns article.
Before, during and after your project
- Before you start: Ask the City whether your exact work needs a permit, and prepare the plans and application it requires. A contractor's assurance is not a substitute for checking the rules.
- While work is underway: Keep the permit, approved plans, contractor details and invoices together. Arrange any required inspections rather than assuming they happen automatically.
- When work is done: Confirm the City's file status and retain the inspection and close-out records. Finished-looking work is not the same as a completed permit file.
A permit and inspection record can help you answer questions later; they are not a warranty that every part of the work is safe or a guarantee of a higher sale price. My renovation guide looks at how to choose improvements, and the home-inspection guide explains a different kind of condition check.
If you are buying or preparing to sell
As a buyer, ask what work was done, when, and whether a permit and final inspection were required and completed. A public search can be a starting point, but it may not tell the whole story. The Property Due Diligence Checker organizes the questions; confirm a material answer with the City and your lawyer.
As a seller, gather the records you have before listing and investigate an unclear file early. Being able to explain what was approved and inspected may reduce one source of uncertainty, but the effect on a sale depends on the property and the buyer. The Seller Experience and my pre-listing inspection guide cover the broader preparation work.
That is why I welcome an event that makes the application process easier to ask about. The useful result is not a shortcut around the rules; it is a clearer path to doing the work and keeping the record straight.
Expect Moore for Your Real Estate.
— Chad Moore, REALTOR® | Lake City Realty