1General information only

All content published on BuildersOntario.com — including articles, guides, checklists, calculators, comparison tables, and any other materials — is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is intended to help Ontario homeowners understand the custom home building process at a general level.

Nothing on this site is intended to be, or should be construed as, professional advice of any kind. The content reflects the general experience and knowledge of the team at ICFHome.ca but does not account for the specific circumstances of your project, your lot, your municipality, your financial situation, or your jurisdiction.

2Not a substitute for professional advice

The content on this site does not constitute and should not be relied upon as:

• Legal advice — including advice about contracts, liens, easements, zoning disputes, or your legal rights as a property owner or builder.
• Engineering advice — including structural design, load calculations, soil assessments, or any matter requiring a licensed professional engineer.
• Financial or mortgage advice — including advice about construction financing, interest rates, HST rebates, development charges, or investment suitability.
• Architectural advice — including advice about design compliance, building code interpretation, or professional drawings.
• Environmental or conservation advice — including advice about regulated areas, wetlands, floodplains, or conservation authority requirements for your specific property.

3Accuracy and completeness

We make reasonable efforts to ensure the information on this site is accurate and up to date. However, building codes, municipal bylaws, conservation authority regulations, government programs, development charges, and construction costs change frequently and vary significantly by municipality, region, and project type.

We make no representations or warranties — express or implied — about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, suitability, or availability of any information on this site. Information that was accurate when published may have since changed. Always verify current requirements directly with the relevant authority — your municipality, conservation authority, Service Ontario, or the Canada Revenue Agency, as applicable.

4Calculators and cost estimates

The calculators and cost estimation tools on this site are provided as planning aids only. They use general assumptions and average inputs that may not reflect your specific site conditions, local labour costs, material prices, municipal requirements, or project complexity.

Calculator outputs should never be used as the basis for a construction contract, a mortgage application, a budget commitment, or any other binding financial decision. Actual costs will vary. Obtain written quotes from licensed contractors and consult qualified professionals before committing to any figures.

5Building codes and regulations

References to the Ontario Building Code, conservation authority regulations, zoning bylaws, and other rules on this site reflect general provincial requirements as understood at the time of writing. These requirements change regularly and are applied differently by each municipality and authority.

Do not rely on the information on this site to determine whether a specific project requires a permit, whether a specific lot is buildable, or whether a specific design complies with applicable regulations. Contact your local municipality, conservation authority, and a qualified designer or engineer for authoritative answers specific to your project.

6Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, BuildersOntario.com and ICFHome.ca, their principals, employees, and contributors shall not be liable for any loss, damage, cost, or expense — including direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages — arising from or in connection with:

• Your use of, or reliance on, any information, calculator output, guide, checklist, or other content on this site.
• Any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the content on this site.
• Any decisions made in connection with your land purchase, home design, permit application, construction project, or financing based on information found on this site.
• Any interruption, suspension, or termination of access to this site.

This limitation applies regardless of whether such loss or damage was foreseeable and regardless of whether we were advised of the possibility of such loss or damage.

7External links

This site contains links to external websites including government resources, sister sites, and third-party references. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not endorse, control, or take responsibility for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of any external site. The inclusion of a link does not imply our recommendation of that site or its content.

8No client relationship created

Using this website, reading its content, or submitting a contact form does not create a client, contractor, or professional relationship between you and BuildersOntario.com or ICFHome.ca. No such relationship is created until a written agreement is signed by both parties.

Information submitted through inquiry forms is treated as a general inquiry and does not constitute a binding agreement, estimate, or commitment of any kind on either side.

9Jurisdiction

This website is operated from Ontario, Canada. This Legal Disclaimer is governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Any disputes arising from the use of this site shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

If you are accessing this site from outside Canada, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with local laws applicable in your jurisdiction.