Toronto Commercial Building Permit Services
Building permits made effortless, so you can focus on your business
Commercial Packages & Prices
Our team of engineers and designers have worked on every type of commercial project from large restaurants, manufacturing plants to small offices. 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. Prices are approximate for a 1000 SF space and can be affected by size, building type and operations. Items marked with * are not included unless specifically requested.
SMALL RESTAURANT (< 30 SEATS)
Restaurants under this category have under 30 seats and cooking operations that require kitchen exhaust systems. Having worked on hundreds of small restaurants, our team can help you maximize the floor space of your restaurant while meeting all relevant building code, accessibility and life safety requirements. We also help you size your hot water tank & grease interceptor to ensure smooth operation of your restaurant. Some notable names we have worked on are: Aria Cafe, Market Street Catch, Toronto Pho, Pho Vietnam, Ginger and many more.
Prices starting at: $5,000
Small Restaurant Packages Include:
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Floor plan & reflective ceiling plan
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HVAC design
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Plumbing design
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Kitchen exhaust design
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Electrical design
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Application service
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2 Site visits
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Fire suppression design *
Commercial Building Permit Timeline & Process (Toronto)
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 commercial building permit in Toronto is ~10 weeks. For smaller simple projects, Toronto offers a fast-track service which helps to expedite the building permit process.
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.
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.