Replacing your furnace with a more efficient model needs a building permit in Mississauga but not in Toronto. A wood-burning fire pit is fine in a Mississauga backyard, needs a Fire Chief’s permit in Brampton, and is not allowed at all in Toronto. A satellite dish bolted to your house needs a permit in Mississauga. The rules behind everyday home projects are less obvious than most people think, and they change at the city line.
The short answer: in Ontario you need a building permit to build, add to, structurally change or change the use of a building, and for most plumbing, heating and fireplace work. You do not need one for cosmetic work, same-size replacements, re-shingling, fences, small sheds under 15 m² or decks under 600 mm. Electrical work needs a separate notification to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Use the permit finder below to check your project in your city.
Rules checked October 12, 2026, against each City’s official permit pages. Sources are listed at the end.
Permit finder
Pick your city and project. The finder shows whether you need a permit, from whom, and the condition that changes the answer.
The finder summarizes each City’s published lists. It is not a ruling on your project. Brampton Building confirms its own requirements at 905-874-2401.
The rule underneath every answer
Ontario’s Building Code Act requires a building permit to construct, demolish or materially alter a building, or to change its use. Cities enforce that rule and publish lists of common projects, but the test is always the same: does the work change the structure, the building’s systems or how the space is used? If yes, you probably need a permit. If it is cosmetic, or a like-for-like replacement, you probably do not.
Two other approvals run alongside building permits and catch people out:
- Zoning applies even when no permit is needed. A shed, deck or driveway that is exempt from a building permit still has to meet setback, height and coverage rules.
- Electrical work is regulated by the Electrical Safety Authority, not the City. A notification of work must be filed before the work starts. Homeowners can do electrical work in their own home if they follow the Electrical Safety Code and file the notification themselves. Some work, such as an EV charger, ESA says must be done by a licensed electrical contractor.
The surprising ones
1. A new furnace (in Mississauga)
Toronto says replacing a furnace or boiler in a house does not need a permit. Mississauga lists “furnace replacement of higher efficiency than the existing unit” as needing one, and so is changing the ductwork. Since almost every replacement today is more efficient than a 20-year-old unit, Mississauga homeowners should ask their HVAC contractor whether the permit is included in the quote.
2. A satellite dish (in Mississauga)
Mississauga requires a permit for a satellite dish attached to a building, or any dish of 5 m² or more. Toronto does not list dishes on its permit page.
3. A backyard fire pit
This one changes completely at the city line:
| City | Wood-burning fire pit |
|---|---|
| Toronto | Not allowed. Wood fire pits, chimineas and fire bowls are not permitted. Certified natural gas or propane fire features are allowed, but not for cooking |
| Mississauga | Allowed without a permit. Keep it 5 m from buildings, property lines, trees and fences, and never burn yard waste |
| Brampton | Needs a permit from the Fire Chief (1, 7 or 28 days). Sunrise to sunset, at least 10 m from buildings and fences, no larger than 1 m². Small screened cooking fires are exempt |
4. Moving a sink or toilet
Replacing a toilet or vanity in the same place is fine. Moving it, adding a new one, or roughing in a basement bathroom needs a permit in all three cities, because it changes the drainage system.
5. Making a window bigger
Same-size window and door replacements in a house do not need a permit. Enlarging an opening, moving it or adding a new one does, because it cuts into the structure. That includes enlarging a basement window to create an egress window for a bedroom.
6. Switching siding to brick
Siding to siding is fine. In Mississauga, re-cladding with a new material, such as siding to brick, needs a permit. Toronto exempts some non-combustible cladding but not brick or stone veneer, which add weight and need proper support.
7. A skylight
Mississauga lists skylights as needing a permit. Toronto exempts a skylight in a house if no more than one rafter or joist has to be removed.
8. Finishing the basement
Toronto only requires a permit if you add or move walls, change plumbing or heating, dig down, underpin, add an entrance or create a second unit. Mississauga lists finishing a basement to create rooms or living space as needing a permit. Creating a separate apartment needs a permit everywhere and must meet the second unit rules. See our guides for Brampton and Mississauga.
Projects that do not need a building permit
| Project | Condition |
|---|---|
| Painting, flooring, cabinets, countertops | Cosmetic work only |
| Re-shingling the roof | No structural work |
| Same-size window or door replacement | Opening and structure unchanged |
| Replacing a plumbing fixture | Same location |
| Shed under 15 m² (161 sq ft) | One storey, freestanding, no plumbing, storage only. Zoning still applies |
| Deck under 600 mm (24 in) | Not attached to the house in Toronto and Brampton. See our deck permit guide |
| Fence | Height limits apply. Pool fences need approval. See our Mississauga and Brampton fence guides |
| Retaining wall under 1 m | Toronto also exempts taller private walls not open to the public |
| Sump pump, insulation, basement waterproofing | No structural changes |
| Decorative gas fireplace | Not used for heating (Mississauga) |
What happens if you skip the permit
- A surcharge. Toronto charges a work-without-permit fee equal to 50% of the permit fees, on top of the permit itself.
- Stop work and open up. Work stops while the permit is processed, and inspectors can require walls, floors or footings to be opened so they can see what was built.
- Orders and fines. Under the Building Code Act, an individual can be fined up to $50,000 for a first offence and up to $100,000 for a later one.
- You pay, not the contractor. Toronto says plainly that homeowners pay the fees and penalties even if a contractor told them no permit was needed.
- It surfaces when you sell. Buyers, lawyers and insurers ask about permits. An unpermitted basement, walkout or addition can lower an offer, delay closing or complicate an insurance claim.
Three real-world scenarios
Scenario 1 (hypothetical): the Mississauga furnace
Priya’s 2004 furnace dies in January. The installer quotes a new high-efficiency unit and says “no permit needed”. In Mississauga, a higher-efficiency replacement is on the City’s permit list. She asks the installer to pull the permit and include it in the price. The inspection also checks venting and gas connections, which protects her if there is ever a problem.
Scenario 2 (hypothetical): the Toronto fire pit
A Toronto couple buy a wood-burning fire bowl online. In Toronto, wood fires in backyard pits are not allowed. They return it and buy a CSA-certified propane fire table instead, which is permitted as long as it is supervised and not used for cooking.
Scenario 3 (hypothetical): buying a house with a finished basement
A buyer in Brampton loves a house with a finished basement, a separate side entrance and a second kitchen. Before firming up, the buyer asks for permit records. The side entrance and kitchen suggest a second unit. If it was never registered, the buyer is taking on the cost of bringing it up to code, or removing it. Our Brampton basement apartment guide explains what registration involves, and our occupancy guide explains why unpermitted bedrooms matter.
Common mistakes
- Trusting “you don’t need a permit for that”. Contractors are not the authority, and you carry the risk.
- Assuming the rules are the same across the GTA. Furnaces, skylights, dishes and fire pits all differ between Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton.
- Forgetting zoning. No permit does not mean no rules (see what a new house can be in your zone). A small shed in the wrong place or a driveway that is too wide can still bring an order.
- Doing electrical work without notifying ESA. It can cause problems with insurance and resale, even if the work is good.
- Not closing the permit. A permit with no final inspection shows as open and can hold up a sale. Book the final.
What permits mean for value and resale
Permitted work is work a buyer and their lender can trust. Finished basements, additions and second units add the most value when there is a closed permit to prove they were built properly. Before listing, gather your permit records and final inspection reports, and close any open permits. If you are thinking of selling, a free home evaluation will show how your renovations affect the price, and our selling guide covers what to fix first.
How to check and apply
- Find your city’s list. Toronto: “When do I need a building permit”. Mississauga: “When a building permit is required”. Brampton: call the Building Division at 905-874-2401 or 311.
- Check zoning for setbacks, height and coverage before you design.
- Prepare drawings. Simple projects can be drawn by the homeowner. Paid designers must be qualified under the Building Code.
- Apply online through your city’s permit portal and pay the fee.
- Book inspections at each stage and the final inspection.
- File the ESA notification for any electrical work, or have your electrician file it.
- Keep the records with your house documents for when you sell.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Toronto?
Only if the work includes structural changes, new or moved walls, plumbing or heating changes, excavation, underpinning, a new entrance or a second unit. Cosmetic finishing does not need one.
Do I need a permit to replace my furnace?
Not in Toronto. In Mississauga, yes if the new furnace is higher efficiency than the old one, and for any ductwork changes. We could not confirm Brampton’s rule.
Do I need a permit to remove a wall?
Yes, in Toronto and Mississauga, adding or removing interior walls needs a permit, and any load-bearing wall needs a permit everywhere in Ontario.
How big can a shed be without a permit?
Under 15 m² (161 sq ft), one storey, freestanding, no plumbing and used only for storage. Other accessory buildings like gazebos and cabanas need a permit over 10 m².
Can I have a fire pit in my backyard?
Not a wood-burning one in Toronto. In Mississauga, yes, with no permit. In Brampton, you need a permit from the Fire Chief for a recreational fire.
Do I need a permit to install an EV charger?
You need an Electrical Safety Authority notification filed before the work starts, and ESA says the installation must be done by a licensed electrical contractor.
Do I need a permit for new windows?
Not for same-size replacements in a house. Yes for new openings or making a window bigger.
What if I already did the work without a permit?
Contact your city’s building department. Expect to apply for the permit, pay any surcharge (50% of the permit fee in Toronto) and possibly open up finished work for inspection. It is easier to fix before you sell than during a sale.
The takeaway
If the work changes the structure, the plumbing, the heating or how the space is used, assume you need a permit and check. If it is cosmetic or like-for-like, you probably do not. Either way, zoning and electrical rules still apply, and the details change between Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton. Use the finder above, then confirm with your city before you start.
Sources and verification
Checked October 12, 2026.
- City of Toronto, When do I need a building permit
- City of Toronto, Working without a permit
- Toronto Fire Services, Open air burning
- City of Mississauga, When a building permit is required
- City of Mississauga, Open air burning
- City of Brampton, Sheds and accessory structures
- City of Brampton, Open Fires By-law 91-94
- City of Brampton, Decks, porches and patios
- Electrical Safety Authority, Can a homeowner file a notification
- Electrical Safety Authority, EV charging stations at home
- Building Code Act penalties summary
Written and researched by Local Toronto Editorial. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Confirm your project with your city’s building department before you start.