Overview

The Building Code Act requires the following individuals and firms to be qualified and registered with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH):

  • Chief Building Officials
  • Managers and Supervisors
  • Inspectors, including Plan Examiners, On-Site Sewage System Inspectors, Plumbing Inspectors and Fire Protection Inspectors 
  • Certain classes of Designers, including Independent Designers and Design Firms
  • On-Site Sewage System Installers
  • Registered Code Agencies such as private companies hired by municipalities to conduct inspections

To qualify and practise in the building and development sector a building practitioner must:

  1. pass examinations for each of their practices
  2. register with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing though the Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS)
  3. pay the annual fees

All registered practitioners and their qualifications are listed in the QuARTS Public Search Registry.

Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS)

The Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS) allows you to:

  • get a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN)
  • create and/or renew your registration(s)
  • receive renewal notices prior to your registration(s) expiring and if your registration expires
  • upload insurance forms (design firms only)
  • pay your fees online
  • receive confirmation of application submissions and completed transactions

Registering as an individual

Individuals can register as a:

  • building official
  • qualified designer
  • independent (other) designer

To register as a Building Official, you must indicate each principal authority (municipality, public health unit or conservation authority) you are employed with.

Registering as a firm

Design Firms and On-Site Sewage Installer Firms registered under the Building Code Act and assigned a BCIN should designate one person to manage QuARTS transactions.

The designated person should be one of the following:

  • the principal of the firm
  • a partner
  • an officer

If more than one person needs access to your firm’s QuARTS account, they must each have a separate  My Ontario Account. For example, if the principal of the firm delegates administrative responsibility, the new administrator must use their own My Ontario Account. The new account is then added to the firm’s list of contacts in QuARTS.

If you are interested in registering as a Registered Code Agency, please contact the Qualification and Registration Unit.

New QuARTS users and QuARTS users who have not logged in between 2020 and 2023

Access to the QuARTS system was changed on December 4th, 2023 and the steps to log into QuARTS will depend on whether you are a previous QuARTS user or if you are a new user.

New users can visit QuARTS and follow the steps to create a My Ontario account. You are considered a new QuARTS user for the purposes of creating a My Ontario Account if you have not used QuARTS between 2020 and 2023.

If have previously logged into QuARTS but you did not use QuARTS between 2020 and 2023, you will need to verify your QuARTS information through challenge questions to complete the process to create your My Ontario account. Your old QuARTS data will be connected to your new My Ontario Account.

Existing QuARTS user

A My Ontario Account has been created for users who have used QuARTS between 2020 and 2023. To access your account, you will need to reset your password by taking the following steps:

  1. On the sign in page, click on Need help Signing In to display your options
  2. Click on Forgot password and enter the email address you use for QuARTS
  3. Click on Reset Via Email. An email will be sent to your email address
  4. Follow the instructions in the email to setup your password
  5. You can go back to QuARTS to log in with your My Ontario account

Note: If your email address is shared with another QuARTS user, you will receive an error message asking you to contact the ministry’s Qualification and Registration Unit to provide us with an alternative email address that is not shared. 

Notification to remove access

When a person with access to QuARTS leaves the firm, you must notify the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to remove their access. 

QuARTS support

If you have difficulties using QuARTS or have accommodation needs, you may fill out and send a paper application form to:

Qualification & Registration Unit
Building and Development Branch
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
12th Floor, 777 Bay Street
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3

Paper application forms may take up to 3 weeks to process.

For further assistance, you can contact the Qualification and Registration Unit:

Training

Building Code training courses are offered through George Brown College. The courses are not mandatory, but they help prepare you for your Building Code examinations. Building Code training also supports professional development in the building sector.

George Brown College partners with other colleges and groups to make sure training services are delivered close to where you live.

George Brown is responsible for:

  • developing training courses and self-study manuals
  • updating training courses and self-study manuals

You must keep up-to-date on the Building Code and understand its current requirements if you:

  • enforce the Building Code Act, 1992 and Building Code 
  • are involved in the design and supervision of construction

Examinations

Get your Building Code Identification Number

Before you can take any Building Code examinations you need to get a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN). You can generate a BCIN by creating an account in QuARTS.

Register with Humber College

With your BCIN, you can now register with Humber College to take the examinations.

Humber College:

Prepare

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:

Review the study guide to find out which parts of the Building Code Act, 1992 and the Building Code will be covered in each examination.

Results

Examination results are posted online in the Qualification and Registration Tracking System (QuARTS). QuARTS will send an automatic email to tell you that your examination results have been posted as soon as they are available from Humber College. To get the email you must keep your contact information in QuARTS up to date. 

Registration fees

All building officials (3.1.5.3 of Div. C)

  • initial registration or reinstatement - $128
  • annual renewal - $128

Designers or design firms (3.2.4.5 of Div. C)

  • initial registration or reinstatement - $202
  • annual renewal - $152
  • updating class of registration - $44

Other designers (3.2.5.5 of Div. C)

  • initial registration or reinstatement - $128
  • annual renewal - $128

On-site Sewage System Installers (3.3.3.5 of Div. C)

  • initial registration or reinstatement - $128
  • annual renewal - $128

Registrations for Registered Code Agencies (3.4.3.5 of Div. C)

  • initial registration or reinstatement - $484
  • annual renewal - $356
  • updating class of registration - $82

Enforcement

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has authority to take action against individuals who do not comply with the rules of the Building Code Act. Enforcement actions may include:

  • suspension
  • revocation of Building Code Identification Number
  • refusal to register or renew a Building Code Identification Number

When MMAH takes action we report the decision to our members through CodeNews and update the list of enforcement actions on this page.

While enforcement actions are in effect, the Building Code Identification Number of the registered person will not appear on the public registry.

Municipal building departments and others involved in constructions and renovations should check the QuARTS Public Search Registry and this section from time to time to make sure building practitioners they’re working with are qualified and registered.

If you have questions about current or past enforcement activity:

Active enforcement actions

There are no active enforcement actions.

Privacy

The personal information you give to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is collected based on section 15.11 of the Building Code Act, 1992 and Part 3 of Division C of the Building Code to administer and enforce the Building Code examination program. We may share your personal information with Humber College for this purpose.

Your personal information is protected according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA).

For questions refer to FIPPA: