Toronto Residential Building Permit Services

Building permits made effortless, so you can focus on your business

Residential Packages & Prices

Our team of engineers and designers have worked on every type of residential project from complex custom homes to smaller projects such as interior alterations. We are have extensive knowledge of the Ontario Building Code and will ensure that your project is safe and up to code. All of our designs are created by a professional engineer or BCIN certified designer and are sealed with a professional engineer's stamp. Below you can find some of our residential building permit services.

Residential service detail

CUSTOM HOME DESIGN & PERMITS

Our custom home design services allow you to create a unique and personalized living space that meets all of your needs and desires. Our team of experienced designers will work closely with you to understand your vision and create custom plans that reflect your style and requirements. From initial conceptual designs to permit drawings, we will guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your dream home becomes a reality. With a focus on quality and attention to detail, we guarantee that you will love your custom-designed home for years to come.

Prices starting at: $8,000

Custom Home Packages Include:

Preliminary zoning review
Permit design drawings
Mechanical designs
Structural designs
Application service
2 Site visits

Residential Building Permit Timeline & Process (Toronto)

STEP 1: DESIGN PHASE

Duration: ~2 weeks

Once you have hired a designer/engineer/architect, they will need to prepare the permit drawings and plans for submission. Our company typically takes about to 2 weeks to complete a set of permit drawings starting from when we receive a retainer. Though the design itself may not take this long, we have found that it takes long to obtain information (previous drawings). Larger projects such as custom homes could take much longer than 2 weeks, especially if there are revisions and design changes.

STEP 4: REVIEW PHASE

Duration: ~4 weeks

Once accepted, the city has up to 20 working days to review the drawings and designs. The City of Toronto reviews everything concurrently (zoning, building code, HVAC, plumbing, fire safety) which helps to streamline the review process. Some municipalities require you to obtain zoning certificates and other compliance separately before they will review your file or issue the permit.

STEP 5: DEFICIENCY PHASE

Duration: 2~4 weeks

There will generally be deficiencies after the initial submission. Typically, they are minor and the examiner just requires clarification. If there are any deficiencies, you will need to address them and send them back to the building department for review. The building department will have another 20 working days to respond after resubmission. The City of Toronto is generally good at responding quickly to deficiencies.

STEP 8: FINAL REVIEW

Duration: ~1 week

At the end of the construction you will need a final inspection and review letter from your engineer to close out the permit and obtain an occupancy permit. If your engineer was not present throughout the job (people do not usually pay for engineer supervision for smaller projects), they will rely on photos taken during construction to write their review. They will also require other documentation such as ESA letters, sprinkler and backflow certificates and other applicable tests and reviews by independent parties.

OVERALL BUILDING PERMIT PROCESS

Duration: 6~10 weeks

Different municipalities have different building permit processes. They are generally similar but can vary (ex. some municipalities require a zoning certificate prior to submission). As of 2023, the approximate timeline to obtaining a residential building permit in Toronto is 6-10 weeks. For smaller simple projects, Toronto offers a fast-track service which helps to expedite the building permit process.

STEP 0: ZONING PRELIMINARY REVIEW PHASE

Duration: ~4 weeks

Zoning regulations dictate whether you can build and how big you can build on your property. Projects such as additions, walkouts and custom homes are especially affected to zoning regulations. Though it is not necessary to do a preliminary zoning review, this process helps ensure that you are permitted to proceed with your project. If you do not do a preliminary review, you may bump into zoning issues later on which could cost you much more money.

Who can apply for a building permit in Toronto?

Technically anyone can create a drawing set for a project. However, it will likely not be accepted by the building department unless it is sealed by a professional proficient with the Ontario Building Code. That professional is either an engineer, architect or certified designer (a person with a BCIN certification). It is therefore important to consider the extra costs of getting the drawings stamped if you hire a non-certified designer. Due to the liability assumed by stamping drawings, it is unlikely engineers or architects will simply seal a drawing for cheap. Many engineers and architects will even refuse to stamp a drawing that is not their own. Below are the seals that engineers, architects or certified designers will provide along with their designs.

Professional Engineer Ontario PEng Stamp

P.Eng Seal

Professional engineer seal

O.A.A. Seal

Professional architect seal

BCIN Seal

Certified designer designation

In addition to designing the permit drawings, one must also consider the actual building permit application process. Some companies provide you with stamped drawings and leave you to apply for the building permit yourself. Though anyone is able to submit a building permit application, it is not always a simple process. There are often deficiencies during the application process and building examiners may ask for more details or extra drawings. If you apply yourself, then you yourself must deal with these issues which could cause delays. Companies that include the building permit submission also handle communications with the examiners and help settle any deficiencies. They can also assist in coordinating with other professionals when multiple consultants are required.