How to Check Your Toronto Building Permit Status (and What It Means)

Where do I check my Toronto building permit status?

The City of Toronto runs an online Building Application Status tool. It is free and you do not need an account. Open it, then search for your property or application.

According to the City, the tool covers active permits up to 10 years old from the application date, and permits closed or cancelled within the last month. It also shows Preliminary Zoning Review applications and Rental Renovation Licences. Information is updated as of the previous business day.

• Official tool: secure.toronto.ca/ApplicationStatus (linked in the sources below).
• Search by address or intersection using the map search.
• Or search by application number if you have it from your intake receipt.

How do I read a Toronto application number?

The search form splits the application number into five parts: a 2-digit application year, a 6-digit sequence, a 3-character section, a 2-character revision and a 2-character application type. Enter each part in its own box exactly as it appears on your City paperwork.

If the search returns nothing, try the address instead. Older closed permits may no longer appear in the tool. For a fuller history of a property, the City offers a paid Property Information Report covering active permits, violations, work orders and zoning designation.

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What do the common permit statuses mean?

The City publishes a glossary of status definitions. A few you are most likely to see on a residential project are summarized below. Check the City glossary for the full wording of your status.

• Application Received: the application has arrived but intake has not been accepted or processed yet.
• Application Acceptable: the submission requirements are met, but intake is waiting on the required initial permit fee.
• Examiner's Notice Sent: the application was accepted and reviewed, and the City has sent a notice listing items that must be addressed.
• Cancellation Pending: the application has been dormant for over five months and a cancellation notice has been sent. It can be cancelled if there is no response within a month.

What should I do after an Examiner's Notice?

An examiner's notice is a normal part of review, not a refusal. It lists what the reviewer needs clarified, corrected or added, such as zoning items, missing details or supporting documents. The application usually cannot move forward until those items are answered.

Respond with one coordinated package. Revise every affected drawing, keep notes consistent across sheets, and include any consultant input the reviewer asked for. Piecemeal answers can lead to another round of comments.

If the notice points to a zoning issue the design cannot meet, you may need a different design or a separate approval such as a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment. That is its own process with its own timeline.

My status hasn't changed in weeks. What now?

First confirm the last update date and whether any notice was sent to the applicant. Notices often go to the applicant or designer listed on the application, not the homeowner, so ask them.

Watch for Cancellation Pending. A dormant application can be cancelled, so reply to any City notice promptly. Toronto publishes customer service standards for its review stages, which help you judge whether a delay is unusual.

After the permit is issued: inspections and closing

Once a permit is issued, building inspections follow at the required construction stages. Toronto permit holders can request, reschedule or cancel inspections online with their permit number. The City says inspections run Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

When the work is done, book the final inspection to close the permit. The City notes that open permits may get in the way of future real estate transactions or permit applications.