Pallet Rack Permitting

Not all racking requires a permit, but most Canadian municipalities require one once the top shelf or overall rack height exceeds 2.4 metres (about 8 ft). How high you can store products also depends on the material being stored and the type of sprinkler system in your warehouse, if any.

Requirements vary by municipality, but a racking permit application typically includes engineer-stamped drawings showing the rack layout, elevations, and anchoring details, along with structural and seismic calculations. Most applications also need a floor plan showing where the racking sits in the building and details on the stored products, load capacities, and fire protection. NAS Group's engineering team can prepare the drawings and calculations needed for the application.

The racking supplier or its engineering partner typically submits the permit application on the client's behalf, though the client remains responsible for making sure the permit is obtained and closed out before the racking is used. NAS Group, a Canadian racking manufacturer, coordinates directly with local building departments for its clients, preparing and submitting the application, tracking its review, and answering technical questions from building officials and plan checkers.

Installing racking without a valid permit can lead to municipal stop-work orders, fines, and orders to remove or modify the system. Unpermitted racking can also affect commercial property insurance coverage, increase liability, and result in penalties during workplace health and safety inspections. NAS Group can help bring existing unpermitted racking into compliance.

Municipal permit review typically takes about six weeks, so it's worth building that into the project schedule. Statutory holidays, office closures, requested drawing revisions, and engineering sign-offs can all extend that timeline. NAS Group stays in direct contact with local building officials throughout the review to address issues early and help avoid delays.