Costs · 7 min read · Last updated
Toronto calculates building permit fees from the floor area of the work and the type of project — a rate per square metre, subject to a minimum fee for small jobs. For a small residential project the permit itself often costs a few hundred dollars; for a new house it typically runs into the thousands. The permit fee, though, is rarely the biggest number on the invoice.
How Toronto calculates the fee
The City sets permit fees in its municipal fee schedule, reviewed and adjusted regularly. The formula is simple:
fee = rate for the work type ($/m²) × floor area of the work (m²)
Different work types carry different rates — new residential construction, interior alterations, finished basements, decks and porches, demolition and so on each have their own line in the schedule. Every application is also subject to a minimum permit fee (in the low hundreds of dollars), which is what most small projects actually pay. Because the schedule changes, always confirm the current rates on the City of Toronto's building permit fees page before budgeting.
What typical projects pay
The figures below are illustrative ranges to help you budget — your actual fee depends on the current schedule and your project's exact floor area:
| Project | Typical permit fee (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Deck or porch (see our deck permit guide) | Minimum fee – a few hundred dollars |
| Interior renovation (kitchen/bath, wall changes) | A few hundred dollars, scaling with area |
| Finished basement or second suite | Several hundred to over a thousand dollars |
| Rear addition | Roughly $1,000–$3,000 depending on size |
| New custom house (250–350 m²) | Several thousand dollars |
| Garden or laneway suite | Comparable to a small new dwelling |
The permit fee is not the whole cost
Budget for the soft costs around the permit — on renovation-scale projects they usually exceed the fee itself:
- Drawings. Unless you design it yourself as the homeowner, permit drawings must come from a qualified (BCIN-registered) designer, architect or engineer. Simple deck drawings might cost a few hundred dollars; full drawings for an addition or new build run into the thousands.
- Engineering. Structural changes (removing walls, new beams, underpinning) usually need an engineer's design and review letters.
- Zoning review. Toronto offers preliminary zoning reviews for a separate fee — often money well spent before you commit to a design that needs a minor variance.
- Development charges. Adding a brand-new dwelling unit can trigger development charges — though Ontario now exempts many additional residential units, including most garden and laneway suites. Verify your project's status with the City before assuming either way.
- Other approvals. Conservation authority review, heritage permits, tree protection and road-occupancy permits each carry their own fees where they apply.
Building without a permit costs more
If work starts before a permit is issued, Toronto (like most Ontario municipalities) applies a substantial surcharge on top of the normal fee, and can issue orders and prosecute under the Building Code Act. Retroactive permits also tend to need invasive inspections — opening up drywall so the inspector can see the framing. The cheapest path is always permit first, build second.
How Mississauga and the rest of the GTA compare
Nearby municipalities use the same per-square-metre model with their own rate tables, and fees for a given project usually land in the same ballpark as Toronto's. Every municipality publishes its schedule online — search "[city name] building permit fees" — and each has its own minimum fee.
Tips to avoid fee surprises
- Measure your project area accurately — the fee is area-driven, and examiners will recalculate it from your drawings.
- Get the zoning question answered before paying for full drawings.
- Ask about refunds: if you withdraw an application before review or issuance, municipalities typically refund a portion of the fee.
- Factor in the review timeline — a stalled application costs carrying time. Our guide to permit timelines in Ontario covers how to keep the clock moving.
Skip the paperwork
Describe your project in plain English and Permits2Go finds, fills and assembles the exact municipal forms you need — for Toronto, Mississauga and municipalities across Ontario.
This guide is general information, not legal or professional advice. Permit requirements, by-laws and fees change and vary by municipality — always confirm the current rules with your local building department before you design or build.