Reliance on Professional Engineer’s Seal

On July 14, 2025 the eligible projects for the Reliance on Professional Engineer’s Seal Program expanded to include accessory structures such as laneway suites and garden suites, mechanical systems such as heating, cooling and ventilation, and enhanced fire protection measures. These changes are being made to accelerate housing delivery, streamline the permit review process for new and existing houses and allow a broader range of projects to benefit from a more efficient and timely permit process.

The Reliance on Professional Engineer’s Seal Program allows for professional engineers to assume responsibility for in-scope projects and facilitates an expedited building permit review process for applicants. Construction projects falling under the house stream, consisting of two units or less, may be eligible.  

Any permit drawings and/or documents bearing the seal of a professional engineer will require the submission of an Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content (AREC) form.  

Submissions with the professional seal and the form submitted will undergo an expedited review by Toronto Building to confirm that the matters to which the seal relates comply with the Ontario Building Code. As the seal denotes assumption of responsibility by the professional engineer, compliance with the Ontario Building Code will be determined in whole or in part by reasonably relying solely on the seal of the professional engineer.  Permit issuance does not absolve the owner or designers from ensuring compliance with the Ontario Building Code and applicable standards. All building permit applications must undergo a full zoning and applicable law review before they can be issued. 

  • House (New, Alterations, and Additions) 
    • For the purposes of the AREC form, “house” means a detached house, a semi-detached house, or a row house that has three or fewer storeys and is 600m² less in area, each with no more than two dwelling units. 
  • Accessory structure to a house 
    • “accessory structure” shall mean a building or structure that is ancillary to a house on a property including, but not limited to, laneway suites, garden suites, sheds, detached garages, cabanas, pergolas, decks and other detached platforms. 
    • Solar panels associated with a house
    • Mechanical design associated with a house or accessory structure review 
    • Additional fire protection measures (Sprinkler Design, CAN/ULC S540 early warning system design) as outlined for laneway suites and garden suites 

    Purpose of the form

    The purpose of the Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content (AREC) form is for the designing engineer to confirm the content for which the engineer is taking responsibility which may include structural, architectural and/or mechanical design.  

    When the form is required

    The Assumption of Responsibility for Engineering Content (“AREC”) form shall be submitted where drawings and/or documents submitted with a building permit application for the design of a new house, accessory structure or material alteration to an existing house or existing accessory structure bear the seal of a professional engineer.  

    Where general review is required by the Ontario Building Code for any part of the design, the Commitment to General Review form must additionally be submitted. 

    Multiple permit applications

    Each permit application and permit revision application submitted in connection with a project requires a separate AREC form (for example, an application for a mechanical permit will require its own AREC form where designed in whole or in part by an engineer). 

    Eligible Signatories

    As the AREC form relates solely to content for which a professional engineer is assuming responsibility, the AREC form may only be signed by a professional engineer.  The AREC form is required to be signed by the designing engineer. 

    All building permit applications submitted with an AREC form must still undergo a full zoning and applicable law review before they can be issued. The AREC form does not relate to the review of the permit application for compliance with zoning and other applicable law. 

    It is encouraged to obtain a Zoning Applicable Law Certificate (ZAP) prior to applying for a building permit. This early review helps outline zoning and applicable law requirements, supporting a streamlined permit process.