How Much Does a Building Permit Cost in Ontario?
Permit costs are one of the first questions homeowners ask, and one of the hardest to answer with a single number. That's because there is no province-wide fee schedule in Ontario — each municipality sets its own permit fees, and the total cost of getting permit-ready also depends on the design and drawing work behind the application.
Permit Fees Are Set by Each Municipality
There is no single, province-wide building permit fee in Ontario. Instead, every municipality sets its own fee structure, usually through a bylaw, and that fee is paid to the local building department when the application is submitted. Because each city or town sets its own rates, permit fees can vary meaningfully between neighbouring municipalities for what looks like a similar project.
Most municipalities calculate the fee using some combination of the estimated construction value, the square footage of the work, and the project category (for example, a new addition versus interior alterations versus a change of use). Some municipalities also charge separate fees for related approvals, such as zoning review, conservation authority review, or plumbing permits. Because these fee schedules change periodically and differ by city, we don't publish specific dollar amounts here — the accurate number for your project always comes from the municipality where the property is located.
Municipal Fee vs. Design and Drawing Service Fee
It's important to separate two different costs that often get bundled together in people's minds. The first is the municipal permit fee itself, which is paid directly to the city or town and covers the cost of plan review and inspections. The second is the fee for the design and drawing work needed to prepare a complete, permit-ready application package — site plans, floor plans, elevations, and any structural details the project requires.
A permit consulting company like U2E Design & Build charges for the second category: preparing accurate, code-compliant drawings, assembling the application, and managing the submission and any revisions with the building department. We do not set or collect the municipality's permit fee, and we always recommend confirming that fee separately with the local building department so you have a complete picture of total project cost.
What Affects the Overall Cost of Getting Permit-Ready
Several factors influence how much design and drawing work a project needs, which in turn affects the overall cost of becoming permit-ready. Project scope is the biggest driver: a simple basement bathroom rough-in requires far less documentation than a second-storey addition or a full duplex conversion. Larger or more complex projects need more detailed drawings and often more coordination with the municipality.
Whether the project requires engineering input is another major factor. Structural changes such as removing a load-bearing wall, adding a second storey, or modifying the building's structural frame typically require engineered drawings or calculations, which adds a layer of professional involvement beyond standard architectural drawings.
The number of review cycles and revisions a project goes through with the municipality can also affect total cost and timeline. A clean, complete, and well-prepared application package tends to move through review with fewer requests for changes, while an incomplete or unclear submission is more likely to be sent back for corrections, adding time and sometimes additional drawing work.
How to Get an Accurate Estimate
Because both municipal fees and design scope vary so much project to project, the only reliable way to know your total cost is to have your specific project reviewed. Municipal permit fees can be confirmed directly with the local building department, and a permit consulting company can quote the design and application-preparation work based on your project's scope and complexity.
U2E Design & Build offers a free consultation to review your project, explain what documentation it is likely to require, and provide a clear quote for the design and permit-application work — separate from whatever fee the municipality charges.