Greater Toronto Area
Steven Melo
Municipal building services leader
Steven leads plans review and compliance at the City of Richmond Hill in the Greater Toronto Area. His experience spans zoning, building inspection, permit review and municipal team leadership.
01 — Strengths
Where Steven works best
Leading technical teams
Steven collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including Plans Examiners, Engineers, Building Officials, and permit intake staff, to oversee the critical decisions, reviews, and workflow transitions that drive the building permit process.
Working through complex reviews
His experience bridges Ontario Building Code requirements, zoning regulations, and applicable law with the practical challenges faced by permit applicants. He helps stakeholders navigate the building permit application process, alternative solution proposals, and conditional permit requests with clarity and confidence.
Explaining requirements
Drawing on extensive experience interpreting and applying the Ontario Building Code, Building Code Act, Planning Act, and municipal regulatory requirements, Steven advises applicants on zoning and Building Code matters, helping them achieve compliance, navigate approval requirements, and resolve issues that may impact permit issuance.
02 — Work
Selected work
Pre-approved plans for detached additional residential units
At Richmond Hill, Steven spearheaded the City's Pre-Approved Reference Model Program for Detached Additional Residential Units (ARUs), leading the development of permit-ready reference plans that are freely available to residents online. The program positions Richmond Hill as a municipal leader in housing innovation, using standardized pre-approved designs to simplify approvals, reduce design costs, and support the creation of additional housing options
Plans review across Toronto's North District
Steven's municipal leadership experience was shaped in Toronto, Canada's largest city and one of North America's most active development markets. Over a 16-year career that advanced from inspection to senior management, he led multidisciplinary teams responsible for the review of thousands of building permit and development applications each year. His experience spans Building Code administration, zoning and applicable law, development charges, conditional permits, alternative solutions, development review, policy development, labour relations, and organizational leadership. Steven played a key role in supporting some of Toronto's most complex development projects, ranging from residential infill to major commercial, institutional, industrial, and high-rise developments. He also helped advance service modernization initiatives, including the development of a Remote Video Inspection pilot program, while consistently balancing regulatory compliance, customer service excellence, and operational performance. This experience provides the foundation for his strategic leadership and approach to municipal service delivery today.
03 — Career
Career at a glance
City of Richmond Hill
2023–present
Manager, Plans Review and Compliance
Leads plans review, permit intake and compliance operations; has also provided Acting Chief Building Official and Acting Director coverage during leadership absences.
City of Toronto
2006–2023
Progressed from housing and zoning examination through building inspection to Manager, Plan Review.
Town of Halton Hills
2003–2006
Building Inspector
Conducted Ontario Building Code inspections for new homes and residential construction projects. Working directly with homeowners, builders, and contractors, ensuring compliance with the Ontario Building Code and Building Code Act throughout the construction process.
04 — On LinkedIn
Connect
For more on Steven's experience and the work he's shared, visit his LinkedIn profile.