The Building Permit Application Pre-Check is an AI tool that helps applicants identify potential issues in eligible building permit applications before submission. It reviews drawings and documents for completeness, as well as basic zoning and building code compliance. The initiative has launched as a one-year pilot project with a limited scope. During the pilot, the City will evaluate the tool’s effectiveness and collect user feedback, with the results informing potential future expansion in scale and scope.
About the AI tool
Why AI is being used
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check helps applicants submit complete applications, reducing delays and extra rounds of review.
What the AI tool does
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check gives applicants feedback such as identifying missing information in their application. It does not approve applications or replace the City’s formal review.
How the AI tool works
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check uses AI to interpret information in uploaded documents, comparing it with building permit, zoning and Ontario Building Code requirements. It uses this comparison to produce a report showing whether requirements appear to be met and where information may be missing or unclear.
Human oversight
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check’s outputs are advisory only and do not replace a formal review. City staff independently review every application against the published requirements. Staff do not rely on the tool’s report alone as proof that an application is complete or compliant.
Who uses the AI tool
Public
Anyone applying for a building permit for a house or small residential project in Toronto, including homeowners, designers, architects and contractors, can use the Building Permit Application Pre-Check before submitting their application.
City staff
The Toronto Building Plan Review Unit uses the tool’s results as one input when reviewing applications, alongside their own independent review of every requirement.
Data used
Data the AI tool uses
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check reviews applicant-uploaded documents and assesses them against the City of Toronto’s building permit, zoning and Ontario Building Code requirements.
What data is collected
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check collects documents and drawings applicants upload, plus basic account details such as name and contact information needed to create an account and generate a report. The data is kept separate from other data and encrypted while stored and transferred. The data is stored in Canada.
What data is generated
The Building Permit Application Pre-Check generates a report showing which requirements it checked, whether the requirements appear to be met and any issues found. Applicants review the report and must submit it to the City with their building permit application. The City keeps the report as part of the building permit record.
Governance & oversight
Privacy, security, performance and ethical assessments
Microsoft Copilot has undergone the City’s standard governance and compliance review process, including assessments of privacy, cyber security, accessibility and responsible AI. These reviews considered how the tool handles applicant information, protects data and informed the safeguards and oversight used for the pilot.
Ongoing monitoring
Toronto Building and Technology Services track how the Building Permit Application Pre-Check is used and how well it performs, including whether applications are more complete after using it and any issues raised by staff or applicants.
Date modified: October 20, 2026
