The Ontario Building Code | Plumbing and Drainage Systems
3.7.4.1. Plumbing and drainage Systems
(1) Except as permitted in Sentence (3), each buildingsituated on property that abuts on a street in which a public or municipal water main is located shall be provided with or have accessible to its occupants a plumbing systemincluding a potable water supply, a sanitary drainage system and plumbing fixtures.
(2) When the installation of a sanitary drainage system is not possible because of the absence of a water supply, sanitary privies, chemical closets or other means for the disposal of human waste shall be provided.
(3) Plumbing fixtures need not be provided in a buildingthat is not normally occupied by persons where such installations are impractical and other fixtures are available in nearby buildings when the subject building is in use.
In Plain Language
Buildings on a property abutting a street with a municipal water main must generally be provided with a plumbing system including potable water, sanitary drainage, and other basic services, with limited exceptions listed elsewhere.
This is a plain-language summary of the 2012/2017 Ontario Building Code text above, for general understanding only and not a substitute for the Code. Always confirm current requirements against the 2024 edition (O.Reg. 163/24) or a qualified professional before construction.