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TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-1
November 9, 2017
Chapter 492
GREEN ROOFS
ARTICLE I
General
§ 492-1. Definitions.
ARTICLE II
Requirement for Green Roofs
§ 492-2. Green roofs required.
§ 492-3. Maintenance of green roofs and health of vegetation.
§ 492-4. Permit required.
§ 492-5. Exemption.
ARTICLE III
Application and Fees
§ 492-6. Application for approval.
§ 492-7. Fees and charges.
ARTICLE IV
Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard
§ 492-8. Purpose of Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard: relation to Ontario
Building Code.
§ 492-9. Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard: mandatory provisions.
ARTICLE V
Approval of Application
§ 492-10. Approval by Chief Building Official.
§ 492-11. Exemption or variation of coverage requirement for a green roof by the Chief
Planner.
§ 492-12. Cash in lieu of construction of a green roof.
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-2
November 9, 2017
ARTICLE VI
Green Roof Technical Advisory Group
§ 492-13. Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
§ 492-14. Qualifications for Chair and members of the Green Roof Technical Advisory
Group.
§ 492-15. Purpose of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
§ 492-16. Recommendations of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
§ 492-17. Meetings of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
ARTICLE VII
Changes to the Technical Standards
§ 492-18. Changes to technical standards.
ARTICLE VIII
Chief Building Official to Publish Guideline
§ 492-19. Chief Building Official to publish guideline.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
§ 492-20. Offences.
§ 492-21. Penalty.
[History: Adopted by the Council of the City of Toronto May 27, 2009 by By-law 583-2009.1
Amendments noted where applicable.]
General References
Building construction and demolition - See Ch. 363.
Development of land - See Ch. 415.
Building Code Act, 1992 - See S.O. 1992, c. 23.
City of Toronto Act, 2006 - See S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sched. A.
Nursing Homes Act - See R.S.O. 1990, c. N.7.
Planning Act - See R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13.
Weed Control Act - See R.S.O. 1990, c. W.5.
1 Editor's Note: This by-law was passed under the authority of section 108 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-3
November 9, 2017
ARTICLE I
General
§ 492-1. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLICABLE LAW - Shall have the same meaning as defined in sentence 1.4.1.3(1) of Division
A of the Building Code.
APPLICANT -The owner of a building or property who applies for a permit or any person
authorized by the owner to apply for a permit on the owner's behalf.
AVAILABLE ROOF SPACE - The total roof area of the building or building addition excluding:
A.
Areas designated for renewable energy devices;
B.
Private terraces no greater in area than the floor of the abutting residential unit at the roof
level; and
C.
In the case of a residential building or a building addition to a residential building, the
Required Outdoor Amenity Space. [Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
AVERAGE GRADE - The average elevation of the ground surface measured at the street
property line.
BASEMENT - The portion of a building between the first floor and any floor below the first
floor.
BUILDING CODE, ONTARIO BUILDING CODE or OBC - Means or refers to Ontario
Regulation 350/06 as amended, under the Building Code Act, 1992.
CHIEF BUILDING OFFICIAL - The Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto
Building.
CHIEF PLANNER - The Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.
COMPLETE BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION - An application submitted to the Chief
Building Official for an above grade building permit which complies with all technical
requirements of the Building Code Act, 1992, and includes the payment of all applicable fees.
COMPLETE SITE PLAN APPLICATION - An application submitted to the Chief Planner for
site plan approval pursuant to section 114 of the City of Toronto Act, 2006, and section 41 of the
Planning Act, and includes the payment of all applicable fees and the submission of all
supporting documentation as may be required by the Chief Planner or his delegate.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-4
November 9, 2017
COOL ROOFING MATERIALS - With reference to an Industrial Building or building addition,
means roofing materials with a minimum Solar Reflectance Index ("SRI") of 78. [Added 2011-
12-01 by By-law 1381-2011; amended 2013-10-11 by By-law 1244-2013]
FIRST FLOOR - The floor of a building closest to average grade.
FLOOR PLATE AREA - The total area of a floor of a building, measured from the exterior of the
main wall of the floor level, including voids at the level of the floor, such as an atrium,
mezzanine, stairwell, escalator, elevator, ventilation duct or utility shaft.
GRADE - The finished ground level of the land upon which the building is located.
GREEN ROOF - An extension of an above grade roof, built on top of a human-made structure,
that allows vegetation to grow in a growing medium and which is designed, constructed and
maintained in accordance with the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard.
GROSS FLOOR AREA - The total area of each floor level of a building, above and below
average grade, measured from the exterior of the main wall of each floor level, including voids at
the level of each floor, such as an atrium, mezzanine, stairwell, escalator, elevator, ventilation
duct or utility shaft, but excluding areas used for the purpose of parking or loading
HEIGHT - The vertical distance measured between a horizontal line drawn from the average
grade to the highest point on the building, but shall not include the following elements located on
a roof of the building:
A.
Equipment used for the functional operation of the building, such as electrical, utility,
mechanical and ventilation equipment;
B.
Structures or parts of the building that are used for the functional operation of the
building, such as enclosed stairwells, roof access, maintenance equipment storage,
elevator shafts, chimneys, vents and water supply facilities;
C.
Structures that enclose, screen or cover the elements listed in Subsections A and B above;
D.
A flagpole;
E.
An antenna; and
F.
A satellite dish, provided that no part of such element shall exceed a vertical distance of
25 metres measured from average grade, and further provided that in the case of the
elements listed in Subsections A, B and C above, the total area of all of those elements
together shall not cover more than 30 percent of the area of the roof.
HOTEL - A commercial establishment offering temporary accommodations on a daily or weekly
rate to the public, and where all rooms, suites, apartments or similar forms of accommodation are
owned by a single owner or entity.
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-5
November 9, 2017
INDUSTRIAL BUILDING - A building or a building addition exclusively used or designed or
intended for use for or in connection exclusively with the manufacturing, producing or
processing of goods, warehousing or bulk storage of goods, self-storage facility, distribution
centre, truck terminal, research and development in connection with manufacturing, producing or
processing of goods, and:
A.
Includes office uses and the sale of commodities to the general public where such uses
are accessory to and subordinate to an industrial use;
B.
Does not include:
(1)
A building used exclusively for office or administrative purposes unless it is
attached to an industrial building as defined above; or
(2)
Warehouse clubs and retail warehouses, including commercial establishments
which have as their principal use the sale of goods and merchandise in a
warehouse format.
NURSING HOME - A building or portion of a building licensed as a nursing home under the
Nursing Homes Act.
PODIUM - The base of a building consisting of a base and a tower above the base where the
base is two storeys or greater.2
PRIVATE TERRACE - Outdoor amenity area on a roof that is available exclusively for use by
the occupants of an abutting residential unit for recreational or social activities.
RENEWABLE ENERGY - Energy obtained from solar energy or wind energy.
REQUIRED OUTDOOR AMENITY SPACE - An area located on the roof of a building,
intended for recreational use by the residents of the building, but does not exceed the minimum
area required under the applicable zoning by-law for the building for outdoor amenity space.
[Added 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING - A building or building addition where more than 60 percent of the
gross floor area of the building or building addition is used, designed or intended to be used for
one or more dwelling units, including accessory uses naturally and normally incidental in
purpose and exclusively devoted to the residential use, but does not include a nursing home,
retirement home or lodge, or hotel.
RETIREMENT HOME OR LODGE - A building or portion of a building which provides room
and board accommodation for senior citizens and is not presently governed under any Provincial
Act.
2 Editor's Note: The definition for "Outdoor Amenity Space" was deleted November 29, 2012 by By-law 1598-2012.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-6
November 9, 2017
ROOF - The overhead structural component of a building or a part of a building supported by
walls or columns and which functions primarily to shelter the interior of the building from the
effects of weather and the infiltration of water.
SOLAR ENERGY - Energy from the sun that is converted to produce electrical or thermal
energy.
SOLAR REFLECTANCE INDEX - With reference to an Industrial Building or building
addition, is a measurement of a roof's ability to reject solar heat, where a reference black roof
(solar reflectance 0.05, thermal emittance 0.90) is 0 and a reference white roof (solar reflectance
0.80, thermal emittance 0.90) is 100. [Added 2011-12-01 by By-law 1381-2011]
STOREY - The portion of a building, other than a basement, between any floor level and the
floor, ceiling or roof immediately above it.
STREET - A public highway.
TORONTO GREEN ROOF CONSTRUCTION STANDARD - The minimum mandatory
standards for construction of a green roof as set out in Article IV of this chapter.
TOWER - The portion of a building above the podium of the building, where the tower portion
of the building is at least 12 storeys.
TRANSIT BUILDING - The premises or facilities, excluding tracks and tunnels between
buildings, for the use and operation of a mass transit system or a transportation system that is
provided by, or on behalf of, the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario or Government of Canada,
or is privately operated and Federally regulated. [Added 2017-11-09 by By-law 1273-2017]
TRANSIT LINE - A contiguous, discrete group of Transit Buildings connected by a mass transit
system or transportation system that is provided by, or on behalf of, the City of Toronto,
Province of Ontario or Government of Canada, or is privately operated and Federally regulated.
[Added 2017-11-09 by By-law 1273-2017]
VEGETATION - Plants selected in accordance with the plant selection criteria of the Toronto
Green Roof Construction Standard.
WIND ENERGY - Energy from the wind that is converted to produce electrical energy.
ARTICLE II
Requirement for Green Roofs
§ 492-2. Green roofs required.
A.
Every building or building addition constructed after January 30, 2010, with a gross floor
area of 2,000 square metres or greater shall include a green roof with a coverage of
available roof space in accordance with the following chart:
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-7
November 9, 2017
and no person shall construct a green roof or cause a green roof to be constructed unless a
permit therefor has been issued by the Chief Building Official. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, where a development consists of two or more buildings under a Complete Site
Plan Application and the buildings are to be constructed on a phased basis, the first phase
of the development shall comply with the Green Roof requirements of this chapter for the
building permit being issued and any Green Roof area provided in excess of the
minimum Green Roof area required may be applied to subsequent phases of the
development. [Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
B.
Every building or building addition consisting of a tower above a podium, where no
storey in the tower above the podium level has a floor with a floor plate area exceeding
750 square metres, shall be permitted to provide the required green roof area on available
roof space at the podium roof level or levels and the roof area of the tower shall not be
considered as part of the available roof space for a green roof.
C.
In the case of an Industrial Building or a building addition to an Industrial Building,
constructed after April 29, 2012, with a Gross Floor area of 2,000 square metres or
greater, the provisions in Subsection A above shall not apply, but the building or addition
shall include: [Amended 2011-02-08 by By-law 182-2011; amended 2011-12-01 by
By-law 1381-2011]
(1)
a Green Roof with a minimum coverage of Available Roof Space that is equal to
the lesser of 2,000 square metres or 10 percent of the Available Roof Space of the
building or addition; or; [Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
(2)
a roof that uses Cool Roofing Materials for 100% of the Available Roof Space and
complies with the stormwater management performance measures required
through the Site Plan Approval process, pursuant to Section 114 of the City of
Toronto Act, 2006, or where Site Plan Approval is not required, retains or collects
for re-use at least the first 5 millimetres from each rainfall or 50 percent of annual
rainfall volume falling on the roof through systems that incorporate roof surfaces.
Gross Floor Area
(Size of Building)
Coverage of Available Roof Space
(Size of Green Roof)
2,000 - 4,999 square metres
20 percent
5,000 - 9,999 square metres
30 percent
10,000 - 14,999 square metres
40 percent
15,000 - 19,999 square metres
50 percent
20,000 square metres or greater
60 percent
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-8
November 9, 2017
D.
In the case of a Transit Line, the requirements of Subsection A which would otherwise
have applied to each individual Transit Building in the Transit Line may be consolidated
such that the total green roof coverage required for all the Transit Buildings in the Transit
Line combined may be provided on one or more Transit Buildings in the Transit Line to
the satisfaction of the Chief Planner or designate. [Added 2017-11-09 by By-law 1273-
2017]
§ 492-3. Maintenance of green roofs and health of vegetation.
Every green roof required to be constructed pursuant to this chapter shall be maintained in
accordance with the maintenance plan required in the Toronto Green Roof Construction
Standard.
§ 492-4. Permit required.
A.
No person shall construct, or cause to be constructed, a green roof required pursuant to
this chapter unless a permit has been obtained from the Chief Building Official in
accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
B.
No person shall materially alter, or cause to be materially altered, a green roof required
pursuant to this chapter unless a permit has been obtained from the Chief Building
Official in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
C.
Where a green roof is constructed in conjunction with a building or building addition the
Chief Building Official may issue a single permit under section 8 of the Building Code
Act, 1992, for the building or building addition and for the green roof.
D.
Where a green roof is proposed although not required under this chapter no person shall
construct a green roof or cause a green roof to be constructed unless a permit has been
obtained from the Chief Building Official in accordance with the Toronto Green Roof
Construction Standard.
§ 492-5. Exemption.
A.
Section 492-2 does not apply to a building or building addition if:
(1)
A complete building permit application in accordance with section 8 of the
Building Code Act, 1992, has been submitted for the building or building addition
prior to January 31, 2010; or
(2)
A complete site plan application has been submitted for the building or building
addition prior to January 31, 2010.
B.
Section 492-2 does not apply to a residential building or building addition to a residential
building with a height less than or equal to the greater of six storeys or 20 metres.
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-9
November 9, 2017
C.
Section 492-2 does not apply to an industrial building or building addition to an industrial
building constructed prior to April 30, 2012. [Amended 2011-02-08 by By-law
182-2011]
D.
Section 492-2 does not apply to commercial greenhouses located at grade, temporary
structures and air supported structures. [Added 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
ARTICLE III
Application and Fees
§ 492-6. Application for approval.
An application for a permit for construction of a green roof shall be made to the Chief Building
Official on forms, including a "Green Roof Declaration Form," that may be prescribed by the
Chief Building Official from time to time. The "Green Roof Declaration Form" may require
information including, but not limited to: structural design; intended use of the roof and whether
or not it will be accessible to the public; and fire safety provisions.
§ 492-7. Fees and charges.
A.
Where an application for a required green roof is made in conjunction with an application
for a permit for construction of a building or building addition under section 8 of the
Building Code Act, 1992, there shall be no additional fee for the green roof.
B.
Where an application for a permit is made for an alteration or renovation to construct a
green roof, the fee for the application shall be the same as for the building permit
classification "Re-Roofing with structural work, raise roof structure" provided in
Chapter 363, Building Construction and Demolition.
ARTICLE IV
Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard
§ 492-8. Purpose of Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard: relation to Ontario
Building Code.
A.
The purpose of the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard is to set out minimum
requirements for the construction and maintenance of green roofs. The design and
construction of a green roof shall meet the City's minimum requirements for green roof
construction while also meeting the Ontario Building Code (OBC) requirements. The
Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard does not replace or alter any existing OBC
requirements, or define a singular code-compliant green roof design.
B.
A designer of a green roof shall apply the measures described in this article with
reference to the principles governing the OBC requirements related to each measure.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-10
November 9, 2017
C.
This article is considered an acceptable solution for the design and construction of a
green roof in addition to the acceptable solutions contained in parts 3 to 12, Division B,
of the OBC. Designs shall meet the OBC objectives to demonstrate compliance with the
OBC; however a design that complies with the provisions of § 492-9 shall be deemed to
comply to such objectives.
D.
A green roof designed to the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard may be
constructed on both combustible and non-combustible buildings.
§ 492-9. Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard: mandatory provisions.
The following standards shall be met in the design and construction of a green roof:
A.
Green roof assembly.
A green roof assembly shall, as a minimum, consist of a root repellent system, a drainage
system, a filtering layer, a growing medium and plants, and shall be installed on a
waterproof membrane of an applicable roof.
B.
Gravity loads.
(1)
The applicant shall calculate green roof gravity loads following the protocol
provided by the ASTM standard: "ASTM E2397.05 - Standard Practice for
Determination of Dead Loads and Live Loads Associated with Green Roof
Systems."
(2)
The density of the growing media shall be determined:
(a)
In accordance with "ASTM E2399.05 - Standard Test Method for
Maximum Media Density for Dead Load Analysis of Green Roof
Systems"; or alternatively
(b)
The designer may use an un-factored, saturated density of the growing
media of 2,000 kg/m3.
(3)
The applicant shall include design loads definition as part of the "Green Roof
Declaration" form which shall be required as part of an application for building
permit.
C.
Slope stability.
All roofs with slopes in excess of 10º (17 percent) that support green roof assemblies
shall incorporate anti-shear measures.
D.
Parapet height and/or overflow scupper locations.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-11
November 9, 2017
(1)
Parapets and scuppers shall be specified in the design, as required, to limit
retained rain water loads to within structural limits in the event of obstructed
internal drains.
(2)
Analysis shall be done in conformance with OBC Division B 4.1.6.4.(4).(3).
(3)
The referenced point for the overflow scuppers height must be clearly indicated to
avoid the possibility of confusing the overflow scupper height as being measured
above the finished green surface or other layer above the waterproofing resulting
in higher water load than accounted for by the design as indicated in the sketch
below.
E.
Wind uplift.
The applicant shall provide a report, stamped by an engineer, providing wind uplift
pressures being designed for (including a description of how the pressures were
determined), and describing how the design addresses these pressures.
F.
Fire safety.
Where roof penetrations, intersecting walls, parapets, upturns or mechanical equipment are
clad with combustible materials the design shall include a vegetation-free border zone
abutting such features and the vegetation-free border shall be equal to the vegetation height
at maturity but in no case be less than 0.5 metres.
G.
Occupancy and safety.
The applicant shall state, in a green roof declaration form and the green roof application,
the use of the roof and whether or not it will be accessible to the public.
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CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-12
November 9, 2017
H.
Waterproofing.
(1)
The design and construction shall include the installation of a root barrier in all
vegetated roofing systems.
(2)
Immediately prior to installation of the green roof, the applicant shall cause to be
conducted one of the following leakage testing protocols:
(a)
Flood test;
(b)
Electric field vector mapping;
(c)
Impedance test;
(d)
Infrared (IR) thermal imaging;
(e)
Low voltage testing;
(f)
High voltage testing;
(g)
Moisture sensors;
and a report documenting a successful test, signed by an architect or engineer,
shall be provided to the Chief Building Official.
I.
Drainage.
(1)
The design hydraulic load shall be evaluated assuming that the green roof system
is fully saturated prior to the maximum fifteen-minute rainfall.
(2)
Positive slope to drain shall be provided at the level of the waterproofing
membrane.
(3)
The system shall permit effective drainage beneath the growth media.
(4)
Vegetation-free zones shall be provided around all drains.
J.
Water retention.
(1)
Water retention mats or equivalent materials shall be employed as required to
promote vegetation growth.
(2)
The drainage layer shall be appropriate for storm water retention and must be
selected following "ASTM E2398-05 Standard Test Method for Water Capture
and Media Retention of Geo-composite Drain Layers for Green Roof Systems."
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K.
Vegetation performance.
In order to support plant survivability:
(1)
When structurally possible, the growing media shall be at a minimum
100 millimetres; or
(2)
The applicant shall provide a report confirming that the engineered system as
designed provides plant survivability comparable to that of an un-irrigated system
with growing media at minimum 100 millimetres.
L.
Plant selection.
(1)
Vegetation on a green roof shall not include any noxious weeds as defined in
Ontario Regulation 1096 under the Weed Control Act, as may be amended from
time to time.
(2)
The plant selection and design shall be such that within three years of the planting
date the selected plants shall cover no less than 80 percent of the vegetated roof.
(3)
Compliance with the plant coverage required in the preceding sentence can be
satisfied by a design that will provide one or more of the following:
(a)
That seeds for groundcover plantings shall be sown at a rate not less than
325/m2;
(b)
That cuttings shall be distributed not less than 12kg/100m2; and
(c)
Either that pre-grown plugs shall be installed not less than 11/m2 or a
report from the designer that describes how the design fulfills this
coverage requirement shall be provided with the application.
M.
Irrigation.
Adequate measures shall be provided to permit irrigation necessary to initiate and sustain
the vegetation during the service life of the green roof.
N.
Maintenance plan.
(1)
The applicant shall develop a maintenance plan for the green roof as per
CSA-S478-95 "Guideline on Durability in Buildings" which shall define
programs of routine maintenance and inspection sufficient to ensure that the green
roof components perform their required functions for the duration of their design
service lives.
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(2)
The maintenance plan shall address the requirements of the specified growth
media and vegetation for vegetation survival.
(3)
The maintenance plan shall address re-planting, in the event that re-planting
should become necessary, and assure that complete coverage at canopy level is
achieved within three growing seasons and maintained for the service life of the
green roof.
(4)
The maintenance plan shall be submitted with the application for a permit for a
green roof.
ARTICLE V
Approval of Application
§ 492-10. Approval by Chief Building Official.
The Chief Building Official shall approve an application for construction of a green roof that
conforms to this chapter by issuing a permit in accordance with section 8 of the Building Code
Act, 1992, in conjunction with an application for construction of a building or structure that
includes a green roof.
§ 492-11. Exemption or variation of coverage requirement for a green roof by the Chief
Planner.
[Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
A.
If an applicant is unable to provide the green roof coverage as required in this chapter,
application may be made to the Chief Planner for either a complete exemption to the
requirement to provide a green roof or to provide a smaller green roof area than would
otherwise be required, provided that a cash-in-lieu payment is made in accordance with
this chapter, and the Chief Planner shall approve such application and shall notify the
local Councillor(s) of the decision.
B.
Where an application for a reduced green roof requirement is made to the Chief Planner
pursuant to subsection A, no alteration or variance to the technical standards for
construction of green roofs as provided in the Toronto Green Roofs Construction
Standard shall be permitted.
C.
Where the Chief Planner has approved an exemption or variance and the cash-in-lieu
payment is made, the Chief Building Official may issue a permit for the related building
or building addition as though the applicant was in compliance with this chapter.
§ 492-12. Cash in lieu of construction of a green roof.
A.
Where less than the required green roof coverage than otherwise would be required by
this chapter is provided, either because of a variance or exemption approved by the Chief
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492-15
November 9, 2017
Planner, the applicant shall make a payment of cash-in-lieu of construction of a green
roof for the reduced or exempted area based on the average actual cost of construction of
a green roof which at the time of the passing of this chapter shall be deemed to be
$200.00/m2. [Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
B.
The Chief Planner shall from time to time, and at least bi-annually, report to City Council
on the cost of construction for a green roof and shall recommend changes to the base sum
in Subsection A to ensure that it reflects the prevailing average actual cost of construction
of a green roof.
C.
All of the funds collected as cash in lieu of construction of a green roof shall be
segregated and directed to the Eco-Roof Incentive Program of the City for the provision
of green roofs. [Amended 2012-11-29 by By-law 1598-2012]
ARTICLE VI
Green Roof Technical Advisory Group
§ 492-13. Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
A.
The Chief Building Official shall appoint a chair and 10 members of the Green Roof
Technical Advisory Group.
B.
The Chair and members of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group shall be appointed
for a term of three years, and may be re-appointed for an additional term of three years.
C.
The Office of the Chief Building Official shall provide staff support, including secretariat
duties, for the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
§ 492-14. Qualifications for Chair and members of the Green Roof Technical Advisory
Group.
A.
Persons appointed as the Chair or as a member of the Green Roof Technical Advisory
Group shall possess expert knowledge and professional qualification concerning green
roof technology and have a working familiarity with the building code.
B.
Membership in the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group shall be representative of
various sectors including the following:
(1)
Enforcement of regulations and administration of the building code sector
including but not limited to members from staff of Toronto Building and the
Building and Development Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs;
(2)
Design sector;
(3)
Material and component manufacturers and suppliers sector;
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(4)
Construction sector;
(5)
Research sector including but not limited to persons involved in green roof
research and testing in a professional academic institution, school of engineering
or architecture; and
(6)
Green roof industry sector being individuals working in the green roof industry.
§ 492-15. Purpose of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
A.
The Green Roof Technical Advisory Group shall make recommendations for
consideration by the Chief Building Official with respect to:
(1)
Technical issues relating to the creation, implementation and development of the
City of Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard;
(2)
Possible amendments to the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard; and
(3)
Take part in periodic review of the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard.
§ 492-16. Recommendations of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
A.
The Green Roof Technical Advisory Group shall consider and comment upon the
following matters in making recommendations for consideration by the Chief Building
Official:
(1)
Policy directions from City Council related to requiring and constructing green
roofs;
(2)
The City's green roof strategy as expressed in the document "Making Green Roofs
Happen";
(3)
Consultations with stakeholders from government, industry, and the community at
large;
(4)
Technical viability of existing or proposed standards for green roofs;
(5)
Consistency of the green roof standards with objectives of the building code;
(6)
Impacts of the green roof standard on the interests of stakeholders and the
economic feasibility of the recommendation; and
(7)
The enforceability of the recommendation if implemented as part of the green
roof standard.
TORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 492, GREEN ROOFS
492-17
November 9, 2017
§ 492-17. Meetings of the Green Roof Technical Advisory Group.
A.
The Green Roof Technical Advisory Group shall meet at the call of the Chief Building
Official and the meeting shall consider the matters set out in a meeting agenda prepared
by Toronto Building staff.
ARTICLE VII
Changes to the Technical Standards
§ 492-18. Changes to technical standards.
A.
The Chief Building Official shall periodically review the Toronto Green Roof
Construction Standard and, after consultation with the Green Roof Technical Advisory
Group, recommend amendments to City Council to reflect the City's experience with
green roofs and new construction techniques and materials.
ARTICLE VIII
Chief Building Official to Publish Guideline
§ 492-19. Chief Building Official to publish guideline.
A.
The Chief Building Official shall, after consulting with the Green Roof Technical
Advisory Group, periodically develop and publish green roof construction guidelines and
best practices to assist designers and others to design and construct green roofs in
accordance with the Toronto Green Roof Construction Standard.
ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
§ 492-20. Offences.
A.
Every person who contravenes a provision of this chapter is guilty of an offence.
B.
Every director or officer of a corporation who knowingly concurs in a contravention of
this chapter by the corporation is guilty of an offence.
C.
Every person who fails to comply with a term or condition of a green roof permit under
this chapter is guilty of an offence.
D.
Every person who contravenes an order under subsection 384(1) or 385(1) of the City of
Toronto Act, 2006, is guilty of an offence.
§ 492-21. Penalty.
Every person convicted of an offence under this chapter is liable to a maximum fine of not more
than $100,000.