There are numerous laws and regulations that relate to construction and renovation work (the Building By-law, zoning regulations, codes for plumbing and electrical systems, etc), and Building Permits will only be issued for work that is allowed under these regulations.

Issued permits are followed by inspections at specific preset stages. These inspections are aimed to confirm that the work is constructed according to the issued permit plans and in accordance with the Building Code Act, Ontario Building Code, and all applicable laws and regulations.

If you find out you need a permit after the work has started:

If you do not have a permit for work that has already started, and it turns out you need a permit for that work, you could face serious – and potentially costly – consequences, including:

  • A “work without permit” administrative fee. This is an additional fee equal to 50 percent of the permit fees for the project. The fee has a minimum and maximum value that is updated periodically.
    Building Permit Fees – City of Toronto
  • A delay while your permit application is processed. All work must stop during this time. The original timeline and fees to process an application still apply.
  • Possibly having to undo the work that was done.
  • Possibly having to do more work than you had originally planned and budgeted for, such as additional structural or mechanical work.
  • Possible legal and /or financial issues down the road, such as impacts on selling your property or making an insurance claim.

NOTE: As the homeowner, you are responsible for paying these fees or penalties yourself even if you have hired a contractor who assured you that permits were not needed.