Ontario Permit Process 2026: What Homeowners Need to Know
Step 1: Does Your Project Require a Permit?
YES – permit required:
- Structural changes (load-bearing walls, beams)
- New plumbing rough-ins
- Electrical panel upgrades
- Basement finishing (new habitable space)
- Decks over 24 inches above grade
- Any addition
- Garden/laneway suites
NO – typically no permit:
- Painting
- Flooring
- Cabinet replacement (no plumbing move)
- Fixture swaps at same location
When uncertain: call your municipality’s building department. They will tell you.
Step 2: Prepare Application
Required documents (varies by scope):
- Site plan (property lines, existing structures, proposed work)
- Floor plans (existing + proposed)
- Elevation drawings (additions or exterior changes)
- Structural drawings (P.Eng or OAA stamp for complex work)
- Specification notes
Application fee: $200-$3,500 depending on municipality and scope.
Step 3: Wait for Approval
| Municipality | Simple | Complex |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 3-8 weeks | 10-20 weeks |
| Mississauga | 2-6 weeks | 6-14 weeks |
| Brampton | 3-7 weeks | 8-16 weeks |
| Markham/Vaughan | 2-5 weeks | 6-12 weeks |
Step 4: Pass Required Inspections
Common stages: footing, framing/rough-in, insulation, final.
Book 2-5 business days in advance.
Never start construction before permit approval. Stop-work orders = expensive.
LF Builders pulls permits on all applicable GTA projects: lfbuilders.ca
home.renovation.reviews | Samm Simon 251 KM: sammsimon.ca