Toronto’s voluntary Building Permit Application Pre-Check lets eligible applicants review selected application documents before filing with the City. It is hosted through CivCheck, a third-party service. A garden-suite applicant may be eligible, but the pre-check is an optional early screen, not a permit decision or a substitute for Toronto Building’s formal review.
Check whether the pilot fits your project
The City’s current pilot includes eligible residential buildings with no more than two dwelling units, additions and alterations to those buildings, and accessory structures such as garden suites and laneway suites. The tool checks only a defined set of requirements. Its zoning review is limited to selected Zoning Applicable Law Certificate reviews in Residential Detached and Residential Multiple zones; some Ontario Building Code requirements may also be included. Confirm current eligibility and the applicable project guide with Toronto before uploading plans. Projects outside the pilot can still use the City’s regular application process.
Prepare documents and review the results
Start with Toronto’s current application guide and electronic-submission instructions so you know which documents the City requires. The City’s applicant guide describes a sequence for creating a CivCheck account, entering the property address and permit type, uploading readable and unlocked PDF plans and forms, checking document categories, and reviewing the tool’s results. The tool may flag missing or inconsistent material, selected zoning or code issues, and file-formatting problems. Its report can help you find items to check before filing, but the pilot may not identify every issue.
Read each result against the plans and official requirements. Toronto’s user guide says the system may label checks as likely compliant, needing attention, or not compliant; those labels are automated feedback, not a City determination. City staff still conduct the full review and make the permit decision. The pre-check does not guarantee a faster first review, permit approval, or a particular review time.
Submit separately and consider what you upload
Completing the pre-check does not submit a building permit application. After you review the report, Toronto directs applicants to formally submit through the City’s building-permit system and include the pre-check ID and report when requested. Keep the report with the application record and respond to any later City requests through the official channel.
Before using CivCheck, read Toronto’s current terms and collection notice. The City identifies the tool as a third-party service, and its terms say interactions may be transmitted to, processed by, and stored on provider systems. Submit only information you are authorized to share, and verify any result against current City records or an authorized City official. For a broader document checklist, see plans, inspections, and completion documents.