Secondary Suites

General Information

All drawings to be done on standardized sized sheets, drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, signed and dated.

Applications including drawings with the seal of a professional engineer must include a completed Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content Form.

If drawings were prepared by a qualified designer (as defined under Div. C, Part 3, Section 3.2 of the Ontario Building Code), drawings must include the designer’s name, registration number, qualification identification number, signature, and stamp/statement that the person has reviewed and taken responsibility for the design activities.

All drawings, reports, and forms, including the completed Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish, must be provided in a PDF format.

Required Forms and Documents

The following documents are required as part of your submission package.

Document Name	Description
Site Plan	Survey or site plan showing property lines, lot area, right-of-way or easements (referenced to a current survey) Location of existing/proposed buildings with overall dimensions and include setback dimensions to property lines and adjacent buildings. Summary of permitted and proposed zoning provisions to include lot area, building area (GFA), coverage, and grade elevations to confirm height. Indicate dimensioned parking areas, driveways, hard & soft landscape treatments, accessory structures (sheds, decks, detached garages, etc).
Floor Plans	Fully dimensioned, for each level showing existing and proposed uses of all spaces, including location of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors and all plumbing fixtures. Provide existing/proposed construction with foundation and exterior wall information, showing interior partitions and structural framing above.
Sections	Cross section(s) to show existing/proposed building construction and specifications of all floor, wall and roof assemblies. Provide footing and foundation wall details including height of exterior grade above basement floor. Show floor to floor, floor to ceiling and overall building heights. Detail stairs, landings, guards and handrails.
Construction Details and Notes	Building materials and specifications of all wall, floor and roof assemblies with typical wall section and typical roof detail. Provide guard details including connection detail.

The following forms are required as part of your submission package.

Form Name	Description
Application to Construct or Demolish	Building permit application form required for all submissions. In the section B (ii) field, please write the appropriate reference number for your chosen pre-approved plan.
Schedule 1: Designer Information	Required for all designers, except Engineers and Architects when applying for any Construction Permit. Property Owners, if exempted from qualification must fill-in the form to specify the reason for exemption. This form confirms the homeowner or designer who chooses to use a pre-reviewed plan as part of their building permit application will ultimately be taking responsibility for the design.
Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content Form	Where the permit drawings and/or documents submitted with a building permit application for a design of a new house or material alteration to an existing house bear the seal of a professional engineer, the professional engineer who sealed drawings and/or documents shall confirm the content for which the engineer is assuming professional responsibility by completing the Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content Form.

Mechanical (HVAC) and Plumbing Requirements

Mechanical (HVAC) Permit

If your project includes an HVAC elements please review the Residential Mechanical (HVAC) Guide for additional requirement

Plumbing and Drain Permits

If your project includes a plumbing or drain and water-service elements, please submit a Plumbing Data Sheet (below) with your Building Permit application. For one- and two-unit houses, no plans are required unless the project includes a reverse-sloping driveway. If the project includes a reverse-sloped driveway, then drawings must be submitted showing details of the reverse-sloped driveway and drain plan. All other residential plumbing and drain permit applications must include drawings showing the layout of plumbing and related fixtures on each floor level.

Apply Online

To submit an application for a building permit for  a new secondary suite, all required forms and documentation may be submitted through Toronto Building Online Services Application Submission.

Apply for a Secondary Suite permit

Once the application has been submitted, it will be assessed by our intake staff. If any required documentation is missing or incorrectly submitted, the applicant will be notified and the missing or incorrectly submitted documentation will need to be re-submitted. If the application is submitted with all required documentation, it will be inputted into the City system and then an examiner will review the application as soon as possible.

When submitting your application online, you will have the option to submit your related mechanical, plumbing and drain permits once you have submitted your building permit application.

Apply by email

To submit an application by email please use the ‘Email’ button on top of the Application for a Permit to Construct or Demolish .

Detailed steps for the email submission process  are also available to assist in making your application.

Fees

Interior alterations (partitions, finishings, etc.)	Fee (per m², unless otherwise stated) Effective Jan 1, 2025
Group C, E and F	$4.93
Residential Unit Fee Each new residential unit included in an application	$54.16/unit

 

The permit fees shown above are shown as as Service Index per square metre of proposed work, unless otherwise specified. For full details of permit fee calculation and a complete list of fee rates, please see the Building Permit Fees page.