Building Permits in Toronto

The permit guides and documents DocHub holds for building permits in Toronto, each taken from the municipality’s own pages.

Permit guides

New house permitsYou need a building permit for a new dwelling, such as a detached house, semi-detached house or row house.
Small residential additions and interior alterationsYou need a building permit for an addition or an interior alteration to a small residential building, such as a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse.
Secondary suite permitsYou need a building permit for an interior alteration to add a second dwelling unit, smaller in area than the primary unit, in an existing detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse.
Garden suite, laneway suite and multiplex permitsYou need a building permit for a new garden suite or laneway suite, or to convert an existing house to a duplex, triplex, fourplex, fiveplex or sixplex.
Basement entrance permitsA building permit is needed for construction of a new basement entrance.
Deck and porch permitsA building permit is needed for a deck, veranda or porch to an existing house.
Garage and carport permitsA building permit is needed for a carport or garage that is an accessory to an existing house.
Shed, cabana and accessory structure permitsA building permit is needed for a shed, cabana or other detached structure which is an accessory to an existing house.
Pool fence enclosure permitsIf you have a swimming pool, you must have a swimming pool enclosure, and you will need an approved Zoning Certificate and a Pool Fence Enclosure Permit to install it.
Designated structure permitsYou need a building permit for the construction of a designated structure, such as communication towers, crane runways, exterior tanks and supports, pedestrian bridges, retaining walls, satellite dishes and solar collectors.
Stand-alone plumbing and drain permitsA stand-alone plumbing permit is for plumbing or drain work which is not related to other construction proposed for a building.
Fences and fence exemptionsThe Fence Bylaw sets standards for fences in Toronto; property owners can request an exemption from their local Community Council to install a fence that does not comply with the standards set out in the Fence Bylaw.
Residential demolition permits (with replacement building)You need a demolition permit to demolish an existing house so that a new house can be built on the site.
Sign permitsA First Party Sign Permit is required before putting up a sign used to identify a business or service located on the property.
Tent and temporary structure permitsYou need a building permit for the temporary construction of a structure, such as a tent or a temporary sales pavilion.
Large residential and non-residential building permitsYou need a building permit for construction for large residential or non-residential buildings, such as additions.

Documents

Every building permit

Houses

Apartments & Stacked Townhouses

Additions & Alterations

Additional Residential Units

Pools & Enclosures

Fences

Demolition

Commercial, Industrial & Institutional

Plumbing & Drains