Certified Plans for Housing Projects

Service Description

A certified plan for single family detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, and all other multi-unit buildings, including modular modes of construction.

Please note that a certified plan does not constitute a building permit. A building permit must be obtained for any construction done using a building plan which has been certified.

Service Outcome

Certified Plan

Housing projects include single family detached houses, semi-detached houses, townhouses, and all other multi-unit buildings, including modular modes of construction.

All drawings to be drawn 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.

Floor Plans

  • Fully dimensioned, for each level showing existing and proposed uses of all spaces, including location of smokes alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and all plumbing fixtures.
  • Provide existing/proposed construction with foundation and exterior wall information, showing interior partitions and structural framing above.

Elevations

  • Exterior finishes with roof slopes, window/door type, locations & sizes including height of sills above floor level.
  • Provide area of exposed building face, percentage/area of unprotected openings and required limiting distance(s).
  • Show exterior decks/landings, stairs, guards/handrails.
  • Provide overall building height dimension.

Sections

  • Cross section(s) to show proposed building construction and specifications of all floor, wall, & roof assemblies.
  • Stair, landings, deck, guards and handrail details, including any maximum level above grade for egress considerations (such as porches or upper level windows).
  • Details and construction notes / specifications.
  • Provide footing & foundation wall details including height of exterior grade above basement floor.
  • Data Matrix, minimum specifications for fire fighting access, limiting distance and exposed building face calculations with construction of exposed building face.

Structural

  • Footing / Foundation design
  • Floor framing plan (including posts, beams, joists, lintels)
  • Roof framing plan (including girder truss location, posts, beams, joists, lintels)
  • Design loads required for all potential shop drawings provided on site

Mechanical (HVAC) Plans

Plumbing Plans (where more than two dwelling units are proposed on the lot)

Mechanical Ventilation Design Summary

Heat loss/heat gain/duct calculations

 

Documentation to Certify Plans

Form required for Certified Plans applications.

 

Energy Efficiency Design Summary – Part 9 Residential

Required when applying to construct a new Part 9 residential building or an addition to an existing Part 9 residential building, to establish compliance with the energy efficiency requirements stipulated in Supplemental Standard SB-12 of the Ontario Building Code.

Compliance using prescriptive method:

Prescriptive Energy Efficiency Design Summary Form

Compliance using performance and other acceptable compliance methods:

Performance Compliance Methods Form

For applications containing Site Assembled and Factory Built components, please contact one of our Building Consultants for additional information:

To submit an application by email, please send all required forms and documentation to bldapplications@toronto.ca.

Detailed steps for the email submission process (opens in new window) are also available to assist in making your application.

Fee Category Fee (per m2, unless otherwise stated)

Effective Jan 1, 2025
For Certification of Plans $8.93
Permits for Certified Plans $15.14

Protect Your Privacy

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).