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Oshawa and Durham

Guides and local rules

Two questions come up again and again here. Does this window need new glass or a new window? And what does the City expect of it? These guides answer both in plain words, for older-home owners, landlords and shopkeepers alike. Ready to get it fixed properly? Tell us what's wrong and we hand it to an independent Durham glass pro who handles that job and quotes it.

Wooden kitchen table with a tape measure, a clipboard with a pencil sketch of a window, a double-pane sealed unit sample, a mug and reading glasses, snowy trees outside the window
A tape, a sketch and a sealed-unit sample: where most window decisions start.

Deciding: repair the glass or replace the window

Oshawa has Durham's oldest housing, so many houses mix original wood sash with later replacements. The repair-or-replace guide begins at the frame, then sorts what a new sealed unit or a new crank can fix from what needs replacement windows.

Local rules: property standards for glass and screens

Oshawa's by-law is unusually specific: windows weather-tight, cracked glass reglazed, screens on every window that opens, safety devices on upper apartment windows, and a way out on every bedroom floor. The property standards guide turns each clause into a check and links the official by-law. It applies city-wide; rental licensing applies only in mapped areas.

Permits and rebates at a glance

Checked September 2026; confirm before you order.

  • Permits. Same-size, same-type replacement needs no permit, but only on houses. Apartments, condos and storefronts: check with the City.
  • Heritage. On designated properties, changes to heritage features need Council approval; maintenance doesn't.
  • Ontario rebate. The Home Renovation Savings Program gives money back per rough opening, but only for a complete ENERGY STAR window or door. Glass-only work isn't covered.
  • Federal. No general window grant; the old federal grant is closed.
  • Durham Greener Homes. A free assessment and a retrofit loan; window eligibility isn't confirmed.

Business owners: vandalism fund and façade grants

Shop window gone overnight? Make it safe and photograph it. The City's vandalism fund has helped commercial owners with window, door and lock repairs and deductibles, while money lasts. Downtown, the Urban Growth Centre plan offers a façade grant that can include storefronts. Vandalism glass repair covers the morning after.

Old glass, and questions we missed

Ask whether removing the old sealed unit or frame is in the quote. Clearing old windows yourself? The City's waste disposal page points to the Region's facility in Oshawa. Another question? Add it to your quote request with a photo, or try the FAQ page.

Common questions

Where do I check Oshawa's rules before replacing a window?

Start with the City's building permits page. A same-size, same-type swap needs no permit on a house. A bigger opening, or any work on an apartment, condo or storefront, is worth a call to the City first. Designated heritage properties have their own approval route. Elsewhere in Durham, each town issues its own permits.

Is there a federal or Ontario window rebate in 2026?

No general federal grant. Ontario's Home Renovation Savings Program rebates each rough opening that gets a whole ENERGY STAR certified window or door, and generally wants a home energy assessment and another upgrade alongside. Glass swapped into an old frame isn't covered. See replacement windows for the full-window side.

Does the Durham Greener Homes loan cover windows?

Not confirmed. The Region's announcement lists insulation, air sealing and heat pumps; windows aren't mentioned. The free Weather-Ready Home Assessment is still worth booking before bigger work. Ask the program's coach before you build windows into the budget.

What does the City expect of a landlord's windows?

What it expects of anyone's: windows, storms and screens weather-tight and in good repair, cracked glass reglazed, screens on windows that open. Apartment buildings need safety devices on upper windows, and each bedroom floor needs an escape window. The property standards guide goes clause by clause.

What happens to the old glass when a window is replaced?

It depends on the quote, so ask. Some pros take the old sealed unit or window away as part of the job; others leave it with you. If it's yours, check what the Region's facility in Oshawa accepts before you load the car. The City's waste disposal page links to the details.