- Permit required: adding or removing walls, new openings, plumbing changes, basements with structural or plumbing work, secondary suites, decks over 60 cm, additions.
- No permit: painting, cabinets, flooring, insulation, same-size window replacement, fixtures replaced in the same place.
- Electrical: always reported to the ESA, even for a small job.
- A complete application for a house should get a decision within about 10 days.
A building permit is not just paperwork: it ensures the work meets the Ontario Building Code, which protects your safety, your home insurance and your home's resale value. Work done without a permit may have to be opened up, corrected or even removed. Here is how to tell whether your project needs one.
Work that requires a permit
- Additions, porches and decks more than 60 cm above the ground.
- Adding or removing walls, especially load-bearing ones, and creating or enlarging door or window openings.
- Basement finishing that involves structure, heating or plumbing, excavation, a new entrance or a second unit.
- Any secondary suite.
- Installing or changing heating or plumbing systems, including a backwater valve.
- Chimneys, fireplaces and wood stoves.
- Sheds of 15 m² or more, and demolition.
Work that does not
- Painting and finishing work.
- Kitchen cabinets and millwork.
- Installing or replacing flooring and insulation.
- Re-roofing with no structural work.
- Replacing windows or doors of the same size in a single-family house.
- Replacing a furnace or boiler.
- Repairing or replacing plumbing fixtures, installing a sump pump.
- Basement finishing with no structural change, no new plumbing and no second unit.
- Decks 60 cm or lower.
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Electrical work: a special case
In Ontario, electrical work falls under the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), not the City. The rules are simple:
- Only the homeowner or a Licensed Electrical Contractor may do electrical work in a home. A friend or relative may not.
- A notification must be filed before work starts, even for a small job.
- Wiring must not be covered before inspection; the ESA then issues a Certificate of Acceptance.
Timelines and inspections
In Ontario, a complete permit application for a house should get a decision within about 10 days. An incomplete application slows everything down: drawings, structural calculations and forms must be ready.
In Toronto, the Express Permit service handles some small residential projects (decks, interior alterations, underpinning, two-unit conversions, plumbing): review in about 3 days, and the permit is usually issued the business day after payment.
During the work, inspections take place at specific stages (foundation, framing, plumbing, insulation, final). They must be carried out within 2 business days of the request.
Who applies for the permit?
The permit is issued for the property: the owner can apply directly or authorize their contractor or a designer. Either way, state in your contract who handles it and who pays the fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a permit cost in Toronto?
Fees depend on the project type and floor area. For a basement finish, they are calculated per square metre, with a minimum of about $200. Add the cost of drawings if a designer or engineer is needed.
What happens if work was done without a permit?
The City can require a permit after the fact, with walls opened for inspection. It can also complicate selling the home or an insurance claim.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall?
Yes. Even for a wall believed to be non-load-bearing, the City requires a permit to remove a wall; an engineer confirms the structure and sizes the beam if the wall is load-bearing.