Building permit application stubs are the records kept by the municipality after a permit was issued. They are not the actual building permit. They provide information about property owner, building materials, architect, use, and cost of a structure.

Building permits are available on microfilm for the former City of Toronto for the years between 1882 and 1926, and in hard copy up to 1970.

Even if the Archives does not have the permit stub for your house, the indexes to the building permits may provide you with information, such as the year the permit was issued.

Building permit indices show all the building permit numbers issued for each street in a given year, but do not give an address for each permit number. You must look at the building permits to find the address. Series 1186, sub-series 2, item 4		In this example from the 1907 building permit index, J. Somers has been issued building permit 6206. You must look at the building permit itself to find Somers' address. Note that while all the names here begin with the same letter, they are not arranged alphabetically within the letter. Series 1186, sub-series 2, item 4
		Not all building permits are as complete as this one, which shows that Leigh Todd acquired permission to build a two-storey brick and stone house, with basement, at 5 ('E.S.' stands for 'east side') Emerson Avenue. He could afford to hire professional architects as well as a builder. The cost of $2500 was about average for a brick house at the time; wooden houses were considerably cheaper. Series 1186, sub-series 1, file 64

The most useful indexes are in volumes arranged by year. They exist only for the years between 1891 and 1914. They are available in large black binders in the Research Hall. Names of streets are listed by initial letter, but are not arranged alphabetically within the letter.

For most years, there is a second section where property owners are listed by initial letter as well. Look up the street name and/or property owner for your property, and write down the building permit number(s). (It is easier to find an entry by property owner, if you know his or her name, than by street.) Then view the permit stub on microfilm. You may have to look at several permit stubs to find the one for your property.

If you cannot find your property in the volumes of indexes, use the indexes on microfiche. These indexes list buildings by type, such as brick dwelling or frame (wooden) dwelling. They cover the years from 1915 to 1970.

If you find your house in these indexes and the house was built between 1915 and 1926, write down the permit number and view the permit stub on microfilm.

For houses built between 1927 and 1970, ask Research Hall staff for assistance to see the hard copy building permit stubs.

To see building permit information for Toronto after 1970 or for other former municipalities, contact Toronto Building:

• South District (former Toronto and East York): 416-392-7974
• North District (former North York): 416-395-7525
• East District (former Scarborough): 416-396-7526
• West District (former Etobioke and York): 416-394-2414.