Permit guideMississaugaBuilding PermitsCommercial, Industrial & Institutional
Non-residential building permits
Most renovation, construction or demolition projects require a building permit, including a new non-residential building or an addition.
Check whether you need a permit
Most renovation, construction or demolition projects require a building permit. Below is a list of common projects that do and do not require a permit.
- Addition to an existing building
- Backflow preventer
- Building or structure (other than a shed) greater than 10 square metres (≈ 108 sq ft), or any size that contains plumbing
- Change the use of a building
- Communication or transmission tower or antenna greater than 16.6 metres (≈ 54 ft 5½ in) high above ground level
- Doors – either adding a new door or increasing the size of an existing one
- Dust collector
- Fire alarm system
- Fire damage repair
- Fire suppression system
- Generator connected to life safety equipment like fire alarms or emergency lighting
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system
- Interior alterations
- Kitchen exhaust
- Loading dock
- Maglocks
- Mezzanine
- Parking structure, like a multi-level parking lot
- Patio for a restaurant
- Plumbing fixture like a sink, tub, toilet, or shower that’s added, removed or relocated
- Plumbing drainage – install, replace or repair
- Re-cladding a building with new material, for example changing siding to brick
- Roof extensions or alterations to increase the height or change the slope
- Rooftop HVAC replacements
- Satellite dish attached to a building, or a dish with an area equal to or greater than 5 square metres (≈ 53.8 sq ft)
- Shoring and excavation
- Site servicing
- Skylights
- Solar panels
- Spray booths
- Sprinklers
- Underpinning foundation walls
- Windows – either new or increasing the size of an existing window
Projects that don't need a permitYou will need to meet zoning regulations even if your project doesn’t require a building permit.
- Cabinetry or cupboards
- Concrete pad
- Decorations
- Doors – replacing an existing one with the same size
- Landscaping work
- Minor masonry repairs
- Painting
- Parking lots without catch basins that are new, expansions, or painting new lines
- Plumbing fixture replacement in the same location, for example a sink, tub, toilet, or shower
- Re-cladding a building with the same material, for example siding to siding, or brick to brick
- Re-shingling a roof
- Retaining wall less than one metre high
- Windows – replacing an existing one with the same size
- Only if you make interior alterations to a non-residential building
Interior alterations
The City's Non-residential interior alterations page sets out what to submit. Your drawings must clearly show what is existing and the changes you’re proposing. Drawings must be to scale, and should use metric measurements. We may request additional information when your application is reviewed.
Forms and documents
For interior alterations to a non-residential building you’ll need to submit:
Site plan
The site plan must include the following:
- Scale (metric only)
- Direction (North arrow)
- Municipal address
- Legal description (lot and plan numbers)
- All existing buildings and accessory structures labelled “existing”
- Proposed construction (hatch and label “PROPOSED” in capital letters)
- Dimensioned property lines
- Overall building dimensions
- Rights-of-way and easements
- OBC Matrix
Parking
- Location of parking areas
- Setback to adjacent property line(s)
- Surface treatment
- Typical parking space dimensioned
- Typical accessible parking space dimensioned
- Aisles dimensioned
Set backs
- Setbacks from all property lines to all new and existing structures
Site statistics
- Lot area
- Lot frontage
- “Gross floor area (GFA) Non-Residential” figure (meters squared) with breakdown of each floor
- Number of parking spaces required and parking rate
- Number of parking spaces provided
- Number of accessible parking spaces required
Key plan
The key plan must:
- Indicate the unit number and location
- Indicate the project area in relation to the rest of the building and the occupancies of any adjacent units (a combined Site Plan/Key Plan may be provided)
Architectural drawings
These drawings must:
- Identify the use and size of all rooms and spaces
- specify existing and proposed construction/demolition work,
- Identify all existing and proposed fire separations, partition and door schedules
- Show all necessary construction details for proposed construction including fire-rated assemblies
Structural drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide design criteria, construction details and specifications for all proposed structural modifications required as a result of a change of use or new construction
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) drawings
These drawings must include the following:
- Distribution system plan including unit location and specification, duct size and volume, fire dampers and fire stop flap locations
- Heat loss/heat gain calculations
Plumbing drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide existing and proposed fixtures and a drain plan indicating the pipe size if changes to existing or additional plumbing are proposed
Electrical drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide the location of all required exit signs and emergency lights
- Show where the building is equipped with a fire alarm system
- Provide a complete layout designed by an electrical engineer
Sprinkler plan
These drawings must include:
- Where changes to existing room or space layout are proposed (hydraulic calculations where applicable)
Kitchen exhaust drawings (for commercial cooking facilities)
These drawings must:
- Be designed in compliance with NFPA 96, applicable to all commercial cooking facilities
- Only if you make exterior alterations to a non-residential building
Exterior alterations
The City's Non-residential exterior alterations page sets out what to submit. Your drawings must clearly show what is existing and the changes you’re proposing. Drawings must be to scale, and should use metric measurements. We may request additional information when your application is reviewed.
Forms and documents
For exterior alterations to a non-residential building you’ll need to submit:
Site plan
The site plan must include the following:
- Scale (metric only)
- Direction (North arrow)
- Municipal address
- Legal description (lot and plan numbers)
- All existing buildings and accessory structures labelled “existing”
- Proposed construction (hatch and label “PROPOSED” in capital letters)
- Dimensioned property lines
- Overall building dimensions
- Rights-of-way and easements
- OBC Matrix
Parking
- Location of parking areas
- Setback to adjacent property line(s)
- Surface treatment
- Typical parking space dimensioned
- Typical accessible parking space dimensioned
- Aisles dimensioned
Set backs
- Setbacks from all property lines to all new and existing structures
Site statistics
- Lot area
- Lot frontage
- “Gross floor area (GFA) Non-Residential” figure (meters squared) with breakdown of each floor
- Number of parking spaces required and parking rate
- Number of parking spaces provided
- Number of accessible parking spaces required
Key plan
The key plan must:
- Indicate the unit number and location
- Indicate the project area in relation to the rest of the building and the occupancies of any adjacent units (a combined Site Plan/Key Plan may be provided)
Architectural drawings
These drawings must:
- Identify the use and size of all rooms and spaces
- Specify existing and proposed construction/demolition work,
- Identify all existing and proposed fire separations, partition and door schedules
- Show all necessary construction details for proposed construction including fire-rated assemblies
Structural drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide design criteria, construction details and specifications for all proposed structural modifications required as a result of a change of use or new construction
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide distribution system plan including unit location and specification, duct size and volume, fire dampers and fire stop flap locations
- Include heat loss/heat gain calculations
Plumbing drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide existing and proposed fixtures and a drain plan indicating the pipe size if changes to existing or additional plumbing are proposed
Electrical drawings
These drawings must:
- Provide the location of all required exit signs and emergency lights.
- Show where the building is equipped with a fire alarm system
- Provide a complete layout designed by an electrical engineer
Sprinkler plan
This plan must:
- Show proposed changes to existing rooms or layouts (hydraulic calculations where applicable)
Kitchen exhaust drawings (for commercial cooking facilities)
These drawings must:
- Be designed in compliance with NFPA 96, applicable to all commercial cooking facilities
Elevations
Elevations are required for each side of the project. They must include the following information:
- Title and scale
- Grade level
- Existing and proposed work
- Finished floor levels
- Exterior wall cladding, finishes and flashing
- Sizes and location of windows and doors
- The percentage of glazed areas relative to exposed building face calculations
Prepare your plans0 of 47
Your drawings must clearly show what is existing and the changes you’re proposing. Drawings must be to scale, and should use metric measurements. We may request additional information when your application is reviewed.
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Complete the forms5
For new non-residential buildings and additions you’ll need to submit:
Submit your application
All building permit applications must be submitted online through our ePlans portal.
- Start the building permit application process by creating an ePlans account.
- Log in to ePlans and navigate to the Building Applications section.
- Follow the prompts to start the application process.
- Complete each step by providing the requested information.
- Submit your building permit request and pay the administration fee.
- Shortly after submitting your permit request, you’ll receive an email from the City that includes your temporary project number and an invitation to upload drawings and supporting documents.
- Log in to ePlans and open your applicant upload task under the Current Projects section.
- Follow the task instructions to upload required drawings and documents.
- When you upload all of these drawings and documents into ePlans, all files must follow the required file name and format guidelines.
- After you upload your drawings and documents, the City will start the pre-screen review process to ensure the minimum requirements are met.
- The time frame for this step is subject to change depending on request volumes.
- You cannot upload any additional information or respond to comments during the pre-screen review.
- If the submission requires more information, you will be notified by email with details about the pre-screen corrections. You must complete all pre-screen corrections in order to move ahead with the application process.
- Once you have paid the required fees, your application will be created and the City will send you a new application number by email.
- Your application will then be sent for a detailed review by the relevant review groups to make sure it meets the building code, zoning by-law and other applicable laws. Learn more about building permit cost and time frames.
- When the review is completed by each review group, they will mark your application as either “approved” or “withheld”. You cannot upload any additional information or respond to comments when a file is in review.
- If any of the review groups have “withheld” your application, you will need to resubmit revised or additional information once all examiners have completed the review. You can view outstanding comments in ePlans on the Project Status Report. The City will send you an “applicant resubmit” email that details what you need to do next. Each resubmission cycle could add two or more weeks to the process.
- Once your application is approved by all the review groups, you’ll be notified by email that your permit and approved drawings are available to download in ePlans.
- After receiving your building permit, you are ready to begin work. At this point, you’ll need to be aware of what needs to be kept on site, including your building permit notice and approved drawings, and start scheduling inspections.
- If you need more information, call 311 (905-615-4311) or contact us online.
Pay the fee
- The total fees depend on the size, type and use of the proposed project or building. The exact cost of your permit will be calculated once we prescreen your request.
- Permits for non-residential properties will cost a minimum of $386.
- You will need to pay a $50 administrative fee when you submit your request online. This non-refundable deposit will be credited towards the total cost of your permit.
- Fees for different types of projects are outlined in the Building Permit Fee Schedule.
- There may be additional fees such as development charges or deposits you need to pay before your permit is issued.
- Once your request passes the prescreen review, the City will send you an email to let you know what additional fees you need to pay.
- You must pay fees under $40,000 using the applicant’s account in ePlans.
- You must pay fees over $40,000 by electronic payment.
How long it takes
- It usually takes about 7 to 10 business days to prescreen your request. This is subject to change depending on request volumes.
- Non-residential applications – 20 business days
- Incomplete applications are not subject to the timelines listed above.
- There is no guaranteed review time for resubmissions since they are not subject to legislated time frames listed above. Each resubmission cycle could add two or more weeks.
- New non-residential – 12 weeks
- Non-residential alteration – 9 weeks
- We recommend that you apply for your building permit well in advance of your construction date.
Written from Mississauga’s own pages as published on 19 October 2026. The municipality decides what a permit needs: confirm with it before you apply. Legal notice