The following information describes how you may submit a complaint to Toronto Building. To help process your complaint, information on the type of services Toronto Building provides is outlined along with key contact information including service related links. A PDF Version of the Customer Service Complaint Protocol is also available for download.
Overview of Services
The mission of Toronto Building is to “ensure the construction, renovation and demolition of buildings achieves the health, safety, accessibility, conservation and environmental provisions of the Building Code Act and other applicable law.”
Key responsibilities:
- Review permit applications
- Issue Building, Demolition and Sign Permits
- Conduct field inspections
Toronto Building has a mandate to impartially apply the Building Code Act, its regulations and applicable law without influence. The City of Toronto also enacted a Code of Conduct for the Chief Building Official and Inspectors which guides the day-to-day activities of Toronto Building Staff.
Other services include, preliminary reviews as part of the City's development approval process, providing zoning and Building Code information to the public and technical advice to City Council, committees, divisions and agencies.
Each year on average, Toronto Building issues 35,000 building permits and conducts 170,000 inspections.
You may check the status of your building permit application at the Building Application Status website.
For information and requests about other City services you may visit the [311 website] or telephone 311 to speak to a customer service representative.
Complaint Policy
Toronto Building will manage complaints efficiently, fairly, effectively, and uniformly.
Complainants are encouraged to first speak directly with the service area where you have an issue, in person or by telephone. Most complaints are received this way and resolved promptly. If you are not satisfied with how your verbal complaint is handled you may request to speak to the management in the service area. If you are still not satisfied you may submit a written complaint to Toronto Building or communicate your complaint verbally at the Customer Service Complaint office. (See contact information under complaint process below)
Once a written complaint has been submitted to Toronto Building, receipt will be acknowledged within the same day (working day). If the information regarding the complaint is incomplete, Toronto Building will contact the complainant within two days. Anonymous complaints will not be processed through this protocol.
All registered complaints will be investigated and responded to within 30 days. If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome the matter may be appealed to the Chief Building Official. Every effort will be made to resolve the matter identifying all options available to seek a resolution.
This Customer Service Complaint Protocol has been based on the corporate complaints handling guidelines. Toronto Building will manage your complaint in accordance with these guidelines. Complaints will also be managed in accordance with the accessibility standards that have been established in accordance with Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). To view policy statement Click Here.
All complaints will be dealt with in a confidential manner in accordance to the Municipal Freedom of the Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
Complaint Procedure
Complaints may be made verbally (in person or by telephone) or in writing (by email, fax or mail)
For the purpose of this protocol, a complaint is defined as an expression of dissatisfaction about a service, action or lack of action by Toronto Building or individual(s) providing a service.
A complaint differs from a service request, enquiry, feedback through an opinion, comment or expression of interest about a service or procedure. The following examples are common types of complaints.
Types of Complaints
- timeliness of a service (other than regulated timelines)
- failure to provide a service or action in accordance with policies and procedures
- error made by staff
- improper treatment or poor service by staff
- dissatisfaction with a policy or procedure
- services available inadequate
Toronto Building often receives inquiries and concerns that actually fall under the jurisdiction of other City Divisions or agencies. The following are some of the most common examples that come under the jurisdiction of Municipal Licensing and Standards (ML&S) division.
- property standards issues
- no heat in apartment buildings
- construction noise
- fences
- complaints about existing structures
For fastest response to these type of complaints please contact ML&S directly.
Some other common complaints fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Labour. Many of these complaints relate to unsafe construction practices related to balcony guards, scaffolding, construction methods and equipment. These complaints should be directed to the Ministry of Labour Health & Safety Contact Centre at 1-877-202-0008
Service Request
Toronto Building is responsible to respond to a number of issues that are handled as service requests. Although these do not fall under our Customer Service Complaint Protocol, we will be pleased to accept your requests for any service we handle or redirect you to the appropriate division or service area. The following are some common service requests:
- request to respond to construction proceeding without a permit
- request to respond to various issues related to construction with a permit
- inquiry about delays in permit issuance
- concerns related to billboards and signs
Complaint Process
How to make a complaint
Step 1
Speak directly with the service area where you have an issue, in person or by telephone. (See contact information under service requests above) The service area representative will provide an immediate response whenever possible. If the matter requires further investigation, the service area representative will provide a response within two days. (working days)
Step 2
If resolution was not accomplished under step one, you may request to speak to the management in the service area. You are entitled to discuss the matter with a Manager and/or Director in the service area. (A record of your complaint will be entered into the tracking system) Management will provide a response within seven days.
Step 3
If satisfaction is not reached under step two, you may submit a complaint to Toronto Building complaint office. To submit a written request, please complete the complaint form(s).
By mail:
Toronto City Hall
Customer Service Complaint Office
12th Floor, East Tower,
100 Queen Street West,
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
E-mail: talktobuilding@toronto.ca
Fax: (416) 696-4143
Telephone: (416) 392-2855 or
TTY: 416) 398-0889 (City's 311 Office general inquiry line)
Receipt of your complaint will be acknowledged within the same day. If the information regarding the complaint is incomplete, Toronto Building will contact the complainant within two days. Your complaint will be assigned a unique tracking number and logged into Toronto Building's electronic tracking system. A management representative is assigned to resolve the matter with the complainant. The management representative will undertake the investigation into the matter as soon as the information is logged and received. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the process.
Step 4
Once a complaint has been filed under step three, Toronto Building will respond to the complainant with a resolution or options for resolution within 30 days. If the complaint involves a matter regarding a policy, procedure or service offered by Toronto Building, this information will be reviewed by Division management to determine if any changes or improvements should be implemented.
If the complainant does not reach satisfactory resolution under step four, the matter may be appealed in confidence to the Chief Building Official in writing. The Chief Building Official will acknowledge and obtain any further information required within seven days. The Chief Building Official will respond to the complainant with a resolution or options for resolution within 30 days.
By mail:
Toronto City Hall
Office of the Chief Building Official
12th Floor, East Tower,
100 Queen Street West,
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Step 5
If the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome under step five, the matter may be directed to the Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is an office of last resort and should only be contacted after exhausting all means of resolution within Toronto Building and completing the process outlined in steps one to five above.
Office of the Ombudsman
375 University Avenue, Suite 203
Toronto, ON M5G 2J5
Tel: (416)392-7062
TTY: (416) 392-7100
E-mail: ombuds@toronto.ca
Legislated Complaints and Appeals
Relevant Legislation
The Building Code Act and Regulations establish the powers and duties of the City with respect to the issuance of building permits. Building standards are established by:
- regulations (Building Code)
- other applicable law defined in the Building Code
- service level standards for making decisions on building permit applications or responding to inspection requests
Shared Jurisdiction with Province and Appeal Process
The Building Code Act establishes the right to appeal to the Divisional Court any decision of the Chief Building Official – extended to staff (e.g., a stop work order, issuance or denial of a building permit). Building Code interpretations may be appealed to the Building Code Commission (BCC). For an application for a BCC hearing Click Here.
A technical issue can be referred to the Building Code Commission (BCC) A problem related to construction techniques
Period within which a Permit Shall be Issued or Refused
The Building Code specifies the following time frames for the review of complete building permit applications:
- 10 business days for a house
- 15 business days for a small building
- 20 business days for a large building
- 30 business days for a complex building
Within the specified time frame, we will either issue or refuse to issue a building permit and provide in writing all reasons for the refusal. (See table below for detailed timeframe If you have a dispute about the timeframes not being met you may appeal to the BCC. For an application Click Here.
Legislated Mandatory Inspections
The Building Code, Subsection 1.3.5.1, requires an inspector provide an inspection within two days once a notice for inspection has been submitted (See Prescribed Inspections below for details) If you have a dispute about the timeframes not being met you may appeal to the BCC. For an application Click Here.
Period within Which Permit Shall be Issued or Refused
BUILDING CODE (Division C Table 1.3.1.3)
| Row Number |
Class of Building |
Time Period |
1 |
(a) A detached house, semi-detached house, townhouse, or row house where no dwelling unit is located above another dwelling
(b) A detached structure that serves a building described in Clause (a) and does not exceed 55 m2 in building area
(c) A tent to which Section 3.14 of Division B applies
(d) A sign to which Section 3.15 of Division B applies. |
10 days |
2 |
(a) Buildings described in Clauses 1.1.2.4.(1)(a) of Division A, other than buildings described in column 2 of any of Rows 1 and 4 of this Table.
(b) Farm buildings that do not exceed 600 m2 in building area. |
15 days |
3 |
(a) Buildings described in Clauses 1.1.2.2.(1)(a) or (b) of Division A, other that buildings described in Column 2 of any of Rows 1 and 4 of this Table.
(b) Farm buildings exceeding 600m2 in building area. |
20 days |
4 |
(a) Post-disaster buildings
(b) Buildings to which Subsection 3.2.6. of Division B or any provision in Articles 3.2.8.3 to 3.2.8.11. of Division B applies. |
30 days |
Prescribed Inspections
BUILDING CODE (Division C 1.3.5.3.)
(1) Except as provided Sentence (2), an inspector or registered code agency, as the case may be, shall , not later than two days after receipt of a notice given under Sentence 1.3.5.1.(2), undertake a site inspection of the building to which the notice relates.
(2) Where a notice given under Sentence 1.3.5.1.(2) relaters to matters described in Clause 1.3.5.1.(2)(k) or (l), an inspector or registered code agency, as the case may be, shall, not later than five days after receipt of the notice, undertake a site inspection of the sewage system to which the notice relates.
(3) When undertaking an inspection required under Sentence (1) and (2), the inspector or registered code agency, as the case may be, may consider reports concerning whether the building or part of the building complies with the Act or this Code.
(4) The time periods referred to in Sentences (1) and (2) shall begin on the day following the day on which the notice is given.
(5) The time periods referred to in Sentences (1) and (2) shall not include Saturdays, holidays, and all other days when the offices of the principal authority are not open for the transaction of business with the public.
Further Resources
Building Code Commission Contact for Time Period Disputes for Permit Processing and for Site Inspection:
Nella Auciello, Secretary
Building Code Commission
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Building & Development Branch
777 Bay Street, 2nd Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5G 2E5
Tel: (416) 585-6645
Fax: (416) 585-7531
Email: nella.auciello2.@ontario.ca
Related Laws and Regulations
Complaint Forms
