News Release: March 20, 2025 - City of Toronto speeds up housing permitting process with expanded Certified Plans Program
The City of Toronto is expanding its Certified Plans Program to support faster approvals and construction for a wider range of building types, including housing projects, laneway and garden suites, portable classrooms, tents, and solar domestic hot water systems. Eligible building types may be constructed using modular/factory-built methodology. This expansion is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to streamline the permitting process and facilitate more rapid housing development in Toronto.
The Certified Plans Program allows applicants to have their building designs pre-reviewed for compliance with the Ontario Building Code. It is important to note that a Certified Plan does not constitute a Building Permit; applicants must apply for a Building Permit prior to construction. Once certified, the plans can be used multiple times without requiring a full Code review for each permit application, reducing both approval timelines and costs. Site-specific reviews, such as zoning compliance, will still be required.
To apply, please visit www.toronto.ca/certifiedplans and ensure that all listed application requirements are met for the scope of their project. All submission requirements can be sent to bldapplications@toronto.ca.
If an applicant has a certified plan in-hand, they must then apply for a building permit following the guidelines posted on the website. Building Permit application guides can be found here: Building Permit Application Guides – City of Toronto.