Book a building permit inspection

Building permit inspections are a mandatory part of the approval process for all construction, including new construction, renovation, demolition or change of use projects. Inspections are conducted by City inspectors to ensure all construction work complies with the approved permit documents, Ontario Building Code and all applicable laws.

Prepare for a building inspection

Have your documents ready:

• Upon receiving your building permit, post the building permit card in a visible location.
• Review the permit documents, drawings, notes and markups.
• Address major changes to the original plans. You may need to submit a revision application.
• Print all permit documents and drawings in the correct format. Copies should be printed in colour at a minimum of 11×17-inch paper.
• Ensure that you have followed the plans and revision indications marked in the drawings.

When to schedule your inspections:

• Before starting any construction work, book an initial site inspection to learn what types of inspections you’ll need and when.
• Ensure you have passed the previous inspection before starting the next construction stage. If not, you may need to redo the work.
• Schedule the inspection before covering up your work with insulation, drywall, gravel, concrete or other construction materials. The inspector needs to be able to see the work.

Check the list of required inspections to see which ones apply to your project.

What to expect on inspection day

Inspections occur Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The inspector will let you know if the work passed at the end of the inspection.

If you pass the permit inspection, you can start the next project stage. If you don’t pass the permit inspection, you’ll need to address the issues identified by the inspector and schedule a follow-up inspection.

Tips to pass your building inspection

Building inspections confirm your work complies with the Ontario Building Code and follows your approved drawings.

Your initial inspection will identify which inspections you need to pass and the order you need to do them in.

The following tips cover the most common inspection issues, not the full list of inspections you may need.

Book your inspection

Once you are ready for inspection, use the building permit application number and WEB ID found on your building permit notice to book.

Book an inspection

After the inspection

You can keep track of the status of your permit inspections online. The status of the permit inspection will show as “pass” if it is approved.

Once all required inspections have passed and the permit is closed, the status will be updated to “completed – all inspections signed off” online. You can search for the status of a permit using the property information tool.

Order an occupancy permit

Before a new home can be occupied, it must pass the occupancy inspection done by building, plumbing and HVAC inspectors. If it has passed all inspections and you want to get an occupancy permit, submit a service request and include your name, address and application number.

You can only get an occupancy permit for a new home if you applied for the building permit in 2012 or later.

Report work being done without a building permit

If you suspect work is being done without a building permit, check the property information tool to confirm if it was issued. If there is no building permit, call 311 (905-615-4311 outside City limits) to report it.