Closing Building Permits

Building permits help ensure construction work is safe and meets the Ontario Building Code. However, many permits remain open when inspections are not scheduled or completed. Open permits can create issues for property owners, including delays when selling a home, challenges obtaining new permits and potential enforcement actions.

If you have an open building permit that is more than 18 months old and no inspections have been requested, you will receive a Notice of Intention to Revoke. This webpage provides information on what the notice means, how to close an inactive building permit or how to maintain an open permit.

Closing your permit confirms that the work has been inspected and meets safety requirements. It also protects property values and ensures compliance with the law. If you have an open permit, you will need to take action by scheduling an inspection, submitting required documents or requesting a permit revocation.

A Notice of Intention to Revoke is issued when a building permit is more than 18 months old and no inspections have been requested. If you receive a Notice of Intention to Revoke, you must follow the instructions to either revoke your permit, request an inspection to close your permit, or request an inspection to keep it open and continue doing work.

If you receive a Notice of Intention to Revoke this does not mean your permit has been revoked. It means your permit will be revoked on the date specified in the letter if you do not respond by then.

To avoid revocation, you must request an inspection before the deadline and demonstrate that construction or demolition has genuinely started. If you do not request an inspection, or if an inspection shows that work has not actually begun, your permit will be revoked.

A building permit remains open until all required inspections are completed and the permit is officially closed.

If your permit has not had an inspection for 18 months or more, it is considered dormant, and you may need to take action to close it.

The Building Permit Application & Inspection Status webpage contains information about active permits that are 10 years old or less (from the date of application), and where the permit has been closed or canceled for no longer than one month. Information is updated as of the previous business day.

Once you complete the work authorized by your building permit, you must take action to close it. The steps depend on the status of your construction project.

If your work was recently completed:

  • You must schedule a final inspection to verify that the work meets the Ontario Building Code.

If work was started but not completed:

  • You must schedule a building inspection to assess the progress of the work.
  • If additional work is required, Toronto Building will provide next steps.

If work was never started:

  • You can request to have your permit revoked by notifying Toronto Building.
  • Submit a permit revocation request through Toronto Building to officially cancel the permit.

If work was completed but no inspections were conducted:

  • You must schedule a final inspection to verify that the work meets the Ontario Building Code.
  • You may need to submit additional documents, such as engineer or architect reports, confirming compliance.
  • If the work was done by a previous homeowner, you are still responsible for closing the permit.

If the permit was taken out by a previous homeowner:

As the current property owner, you are responsible for any outstanding permits. You must confirm with Toronto Building whether any work was completed under the permit.

If you are unsure what work was done, you may need to contact the previous owner or hire an architect or engineer to assess the work.

  • If work was completed but not inspected, you must request a final inspection and submit any required reports.
  • If the previous owner started the work and you want to continue, you must apply for a permit transfer to take over the permit.
  • If the previous owner started the work and you do not want to continue, you must request an inspection so Toronto Building can assess the next steps for permit closure.

You can schedule an inspection by visiting the Request a Building Inspection webpage or by calling 416-397-5300 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).

Request an Inspection

An inspection is required to confirm that the work completed under your building permit meets the Ontario Building Code and other safety regulations. If your permit is still open, you must schedule an inspection to close it.

You can schedule an inspection by visiting the Request a Building Inspection webpage or by calling 416-397-5300 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.). 

What to expect during the inspection:

  • A Toronto Building inspector will visit your property to assess whether the construction complies with the approved permit and the Ontario Building Code.
  • If deficiencies are found, you will be given instructions on what needs to be corrected before the permit can be closed.

Documents that may be required:

  • If the work was completed without previous inspections, you may need to submit reports from an architect or an engineer confirming compliance.
  • If you do not have a copy of your permit drawings, you can request them through Toronto Building’s Records Disclosure Service (fees may apply).

Once all required inspections are successfully completed, Toronto Building will close your permit, and you will receive confirmation.

Failing to close an open building permit can create significant issues for property owners. Open permits indicate that required inspections were not completed, which may lead to legal, financial and safety risks.

Impacts on property sales and financing:

  • Open permits may delay or complicate real estate transactions, as potential buyers and lenders may require proof that all construction work was completed and inspected.
  • In some cases, a lawyer may advise against purchasing a property with an outstanding permit.

Enforcement actions:

  • If a permit remains open with no inspection request, Toronto Building may revoke the permit in accordance with the Ontario Building Code.
  • If uninspected work does not meet safety requirements, Toronto Building may issue orders to comply, requiring corrective action.
  • Property owners who fail to comply may face progressive enforcement measures, including legal action.

Permit revocation and starting new construction:

  • If your building permit is revoked and you wish to start or resume construction, you will need to reapply for a new building permit and pay the required application fees.
  • Be aware that any work completed under the revoked permit may be considered a violation of the Building Code Act and the Toronto Municipal Code.

Difficulties obtaining new permits:

  • If you apply for a new permit while an older permit is still open, Toronto Building may require you to resolve the outstanding permit first.

To avoid these consequences, ensure your permit is closed by scheduling a final inspection or requesting permit revocation if work was never started.

You may receive a notification about an outstanding building permit that was taken out by a previous homeowner. As the current registered owner of the property, you are responsible for any outstanding building permits. Please contact Toronto Building Inspections at 416-397-5300 or TOBldgInsp@toronto.ca to confirm whether work has been undertaken, either by you or any previous homeowners, as described in the active permit.