Request Building Inspection Records in London

Housing and Building Standards Ontario 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of Ontario

In London, Ontario, property owners, tenants and members of the public can request building inspection records held by the City’s Building Services and the City Clerk under access-to-information rules. Start by identifying the property address, the date range and the specific record types (inspection reports, orders, compliance documents). You may obtain records directly from the Building Division or by filing a Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) request with the City Clerk. For official guidance and the City’s access procedures, see the City of London access page and Building Permits and Inspections information City access page[1] and Building permits and inspections[2].

Start with the Building Division for quick copies of recent inspection records when possible.

How records are requested

There are two common routes to obtain building inspection records:

  • Informal request to the Building Division for copies of inspection reports or compliance notes.
  • Formal MFIPPA request submitted to the City Clerk when records are not released informally or when a consolidated official request is required.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of Ontario building standards and municipal bylaw requirements in London is carried out by the City’s Building Services and By-law Enforcement staff. Specific fines, daily penalties and statutory offence amounts for obstructing inspections or violating building orders are not specified on the cited City pages; consult the enforcing department for exact figures and statutory references City access page[1].

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offence treatment not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: orders to comply, stop-work orders and court prosecution are used by Building Services and By-law Enforcement.
  • Enforcer and contact: Building Services and By-law Enforcement; report or request via the Building permits and inspections page or the City Clerk access page Building permits and inspections[2].
  • Appeals and reviews: appeal routes (tribunal or court processes) and time limits depend on the specific order or ticket and are not fully specified on the cited City pages.
If you receive an order or ticket, act quickly and seek the specific appeal deadline from the issuing office.

Applications & Forms

The City publishes guidance for MFIPPA requests and the Building Division provides application and permit forms. The MFIPPA application and details are available from the City Clerk's access page; the Building Division lists permit and inspection request forms on its building permits page City access page[1][2]. If a specific records request form is required it will be indicated on the Clerk’s access page; if no form is published, the page does not specify a form.

Action steps

  • Identify the property address, municipal roll number (if known), dates and types of inspection records you need.
  • Contact Building Services to request records informally; use the Building permits and inspections page for contact details Building permits and inspections[2].
  • If records are not released informally, submit a MFIPPA request to the City Clerk via the City access page City access page[1].
  • Pay any applicable fees as instructed by the City Clerk; fee details may be on the access page or provided after application.
  • If you disagree with a release decision, follow the appeal instructions provided by the Clerk or seek review through the prescribed appeal tribunal or court process.

FAQ

Who can request building inspection records?
Property owners, tenants and members of the public may request records; some information may be restricted for privacy reasons.
How long does a request take?
Response times vary; informal requests may be quicker, while MFIPPA requests follow statutory timelines which are provided by the City Clerk and may not be fully specified on the public page.
Are there fees?
Fees may apply for searches, copies or MFIPPA processing; exact fees are provided by the City Clerk or on the access page when available.

How-To

  1. Locate the property address and summarize the records you want (inspection dates, inspector name, report type).
  2. Contact Building Services via the Building permits and inspections page to ask for an informal copy.[2]
  3. If the Building Division cannot provide records, prepare and submit a MFIPPA request to the City Clerk following instructions on the City access page.[1]
  4. Pay any fees requested and provide additional information promptly if the City asks for clarification.
  5. Review the City’s response; if access is denied or redacted, request a review or follow appeal instructions given in the decision.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with an informal request to Building Services before filing MFIPPA.
  • Use the City Clerk for formal MFIPPA requests and fee information.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of London - Access to information and privacy
  2. [2] City of London - Building permits and inspections

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