Trade intelligence
Toronto New build permits: where New build work is happening
As of Oct 18, 2026, PermitIndex tracked 2,937 new-construction permits issued across Toronto in the trailing 12 months (source: City of Toronto Open Data).
How long approval took
58daysmedian, application to issuance, for Toronto new-construction permits
100% slower than the citywide median of 29 days.
- Slowest 10%
- waited more than 521 days
- Based on
- 2,937 permits, last 12 months
Measured from application date to issue date in the City of Toronto’s active-permit records. It describes permits already issued, not a processing commitment, and your own application may differ.
New build permits by neighbourhood (last 12 months)
Permit guide
New build permits in Toronto: what to know
This category tracks Toronto permits for new construction: new houses, laneway and garden suites classified as new buildings, and multi-unit and commercial new builds.
When you need a permit in Toronto
New buildings always require a building permit in Toronto, and larger projects move through zoning review, site plan approval where applicable, and staged permits such as foundation and superstructure.
Because nothing new gets built without a permit, this is the most complete category in the dataset, and disclosed construction values are typically the largest. Confirm the approval path with Toronto Building early; it is the longest of any category here.
Official requirements and applications: Toronto Building: apply for a building permit.
What this data tells suppliers
New construction is where the largest orders in the dataset live: every material category, from foundation to finishes, gets bought for each project. Tracking where new-build permits cluster tells a supplier where the next year of volume purchasing will happen.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need a permit to build a new house in Toronto?
- Yes, always. New buildings require a building permit and, depending on the project, zoning review and other approvals first. Toronto Building publishes the current application requirements.
- Do laneway and garden suites show up in this data?
- Yes. Laneway and garden suites require building permits and appear in Toronto permit records, classified as new construction or additions depending on how the project is filed.
- Which neighbourhoods have the most new construction in Toronto?
- The ranking on this page lists neighbourhoods by new-construction permits issued in the last 12 months, updated daily from City of Toronto Open Data.
- How long does it take to get a new build permit in Toronto?
- Half of the 2,937 new-construction permits issued in Toronto over the last 12 months were issued within 58 days of application, and one in ten took longer than 521 days. That is measured from application date to issue date in the City of Toronto's active-permit records, so it describes permits already issued rather than a processing commitment.