Building Permit Drawings in Ontario
Every construction project in Ontario requires a building permit before work can begin. At Sandhu Design Build, our BCIN-qualified designer (BCIN 512242) prepares complete, code-compliant building permit drawing sets that meet the Ontario Building Code and your municipality's specific submission requirements.
What Are Building Permit Drawings?
Building permit drawings are the technical documents — site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, and construction details — that a municipal building department requires to issue a building permit under the Ontario Building Code.
Building permit drawings are the technical documents required by your municipal building department to issue a building permit. These drawings demonstrate that your proposed construction complies with the Ontario Building Code (OBC), local zoning by-laws, and all applicable legislation. Without proper permit drawings prepared by a qualified designer, your permit application will be rejected.
A complete building permit drawing set typically includes site plans showing lot coverage, setbacks, and grading; floor plans for every level of the building; building elevations showing exterior materials and heights; building sections showing structural details and insulation; and construction details for foundations, walls, roofs, and connections. The specific drawings required depend on your project scope and your municipality's submission checklist.
Why You Need a BCIN-Qualified Designer
Ontario's Building Code Act requires permit drawings for Part 9 residential buildings to be prepared by a designer holding a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN) — a provincial qualification earned by exam, not a business licence.
In Ontario, the Building Code Act requires that permit drawings for Part 9 residential buildings (houses, townhouses, small apartments up to 3 storeys and 600 m²) be prepared by a designer holding a Building Code Identification Number (BCIN). This is a provincial qualification — not a business licence — that confirms the designer has demonstrated competency in building code knowledge through examination.
Sandhu Design Build's principal designer holds BCIN 512242, which means your drawings are prepared by a qualified professional who understands the Ontario Building Code inside and out. We do not subcontract your permit drawings to third parties — our in-house designer produces every drawing set personally.
Our Building Permit Drawing Process
Sandhu Design Build's permit drawing process has four steps: free consultation, drawing production, engineering coordination where required, and full submission management with your municipal building department.
- Free consultation: we discuss your project, visit the site if needed, and review your municipality's specific requirements.
- Drawing production: our in-house BCIN-qualified designer produces your complete permit drawing set.
- Engineering coordination: we coordinate with any required engineers — structural, mechanical, or energy — as your project demands.
- Submission and follow-up: we prepare and submit your full application package and handle all communication with the building department, including responses to plan review comments, through to permit issuance.
Types of Building Permit Drawings We Prepare
We prepare building permit drawings for every type of residential and small commercial project in Ontario. Our most common projects include basement finishing and legal basement apartment conversions, home additions (single storey and second storey), garage construction and conversions, deck construction, garden suite and accessory dwelling unit construction, kitchen and bathroom renovations requiring structural changes, commercial interior fit-outs and tenant improvements, and new residential construction.
Each drawing set is tailored to your specific project and municipality. We know the submission requirements for Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan, Toronto, Oakville, and dozens of other GTA municipalities — so your application includes exactly what is needed, nothing more and nothing less.
Building Permit Drawing Costs
Building permit drawing fees typically range from $1,500 for a simple deck or basement permit to $8,000+ for a garden suite or ADU, depending on project scope and complexity.
| Project Type | Typical Drawing Fee |
|---|---|
| Deck permit | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Basement finishing | $1,500–$2,500 |
| Legal basement apartment | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Home addition / second storey | $3,000–$6,000 |
| Garden suite / ADU | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Commercial fit-out | $3,500–$12,000+ |
We provide a detailed, fixed-price quote before any work begins. There are no hidden fees or surprise charges. Contact us for a free project assessment and quote.
Municipalities We Submit To
Sandhu Design Build submits permit applications directly to Brampton, Mississauga, Vaughan, Toronto, Oakville, Milton, Markham, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, and Caledon, with firsthand knowledge of each municipality's submission checklist and typical review timeline.
We have direct experience submitting building permit applications across the Greater Toronto Area. Our municipal experience includes the City of Brampton, City of Mississauga, City of Vaughan, City of Toronto, Town of Oakville, Town of Milton, City of Markham, City of Richmond Hill, Town of Newmarket, Town of Caledon, and surrounding municipalities. Each municipality has its own submission checklist, fee schedule, and review timeline — and we know them all.
| Municipality | Typical Residential Permit Review Time |
|---|---|
| Brampton | 2–5 weeks |
| Mississauga | 2–5 weeks |
| Vaughan | 2–6 weeks |
| Toronto | 3–8 weeks |
| Oakville | 2–5 weeks |
| Milton | 2–5 weeks |
Review times vary by project complexity and current municipal workload; confirm current timelines with each building department.
Frequently Asked Questions
Costs depend on project scope. Simple projects (decks, basement finishing) start at $1,500–$2,500. Additions range from $3,000–$6,000. Garden suites $4,000–$8,000. We provide fixed-price quotes with no hidden fees.
Most residential permit drawing sets are completed within 5–10 business days. Complex projects may take 2–3 weeks. We always provide a timeline estimate before starting work.
Yes. Ontario law requires that Part 9 residential building permit drawings be prepared by a BCIN-qualified designer. Our designer holds BCIN 512242.
A typical set includes a site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections, construction details, and any required schedules. The specific drawings depend on your project and municipality.
Yes. We prepare and submit your complete building permit application, including all required drawings, forms, and supporting documents. We also handle any plan review comments from the building department.