For a residential structure, a homeowner may design and take responsibility for their own drawings as per Division C of the Ontario Building Code. If you are unfamiliar with various government regulations, by-laws and Ontario Building Code requirements, you may wish to hire a qualified designer instead. A Qualified Designer can be either an Architect, Engineer or Person with a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN).
We recommend hiring a Qualified Designer to assist with drawing production and permit process and significant delays can arise if the drawings and specification are not complete, and do not comply with the Ontario Building Code or other Applicable Law. Most designs for Building Permits, not completed by the owner, will require a designer registered and/or qualified under Division C, Part 3, Section 3.2 of the Ontario Building Code (an Architect or Engineer is exempt from this requirement).
A Designer is anyone who takes responsibility for the design, which may also include preparing the drawings for submission. You may wish to check with a Building Services Technician to find out whether your project requires a qualified designer.