A building permit is required for:
A permit is not required for:
Solar panels which are not part of a Heritage designated building are now part of our Express Services permitting stream. For more information and anticipated timelines, please visit our Building Permit Review Streams.
Building Permit
All drawings to be done on standardized sized sheets, drawn to scale, fully dimensioned, signed and dated.
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.
The following forms and documents must be submitted as part of your permit application.
| Form Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Application to Construct or Demolish | Building permit application form required for all submissions. |
| Commitment to General Reviews by Architect or Engineer | Required for all buildings where professional design and field review is required by the Ontario Building Code. This Commitment form must be signed by the owner or agent and the professional architect, engineer, or consultant. |
| Tree Declaration Form | Required for all projects where there is a potential for damage to private or City trees. Applicant is also responsible to comply with other tree protection bylaws: Tree & Ravine Protection. |
| 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 form. |
| Document Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Site plan | Survey or site plan should show the building footprints, property lines, and lot area. The plan should show the location and dimensions of solar panels, ridgeline of roof, and include setback dimensions to property lines and adjacent buildings. |
| Elevation drawings | A simple building elevation will be required to measure the height of the installation above the roof. The elevation must show the height of the building and the height of the solar installation, but does not need to show other building details. |
| Construction details | Construction drawings, including Structural Review, Plans and Calculations are required. Structural calculations prepared by an Ontario registered engineer are also required.
At a minimum, structural calculations verifying adequacy of the structure’s roof framing, strut or frame supporting the rails (where used), attachment of the rail to the support /strut frame and the attachment to the building’s roof framing are required. Calculations must be based on the latest version of the Ontario Building Code. In some cases, manufacturer’s information and installation details may be substituted for required calculation and details.Drawings must include a roof framing plan (structural framing member size, type, span and spacing) and any additional framing required to reinforce the existing framing. Provide a building section in sufficient detail to show how the roof framing supports the solar installation and distributes the roof and solar loads to the building walls. The plans must include the layout of the module system and its mounting, overlaid on the roof framing plan. Drawings must also provide information on any support strut or frame that supports the rails including frame member sizes, lateral bracing where required and their attachments. Details and information on the attachment of the system to the building structure are also required. |
| Manufacturer’s specifications | Provide the manufacturer’s specifications for the proposed PV modules, racking, inverter(s). |
| Design professional stamp and signature | All plans and calculations must be stamped and signed by a registered Qualified designer, typically a Structural Engineer. |
You can submit applications via email to bldapplications@toronto.ca. Review the detailed email submission process before submitting your application.
| Fee Name | Fee (effective Jan 1, 2025) |
|---|---|
| Satellite dish, solar collector system greater than 5 sq. m. on a small residential building | $206.53/installation |
| Solar collector system greater than 5 sq. m. on any building type other than small residential building | $408.94/structure |
Please do not include any personal information on your Building Plans (e.g., the homeowner’s name or phone number). Building Plans submitted for Permit are subject to disclosure in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).