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When we help homeowners and professionals navigate construction in Ontario, one question always comes up: What will the cost of building permit drawings be? At our firm, Rigid Frames Structural Engineering & Services, we work across steel design, wood design, concrete design, architectural engineering, structural engineering and construction — with a focus on residential architectural design in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond. In this article, we’ll break down what you should expect when budgeting for permit‐ready drawings, what drives the cost, and how to compare typical ranges so you’re informed.
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Before we dive into costs, let’s clarify what these drawings entail. Building permit drawings are the set of plans submitted to the municipality (e.g., City of Toronto) that show details such as site plans, floor plans, elevations, sections, structural framing, materials, and compliance with the Ontario Building Code (OBC). According to a guide for Ontario, quality drawings help expedite the permit review process and avoid costly revisions.
In simple terms: think of your drawing package as the blueprint to your construction licence — without it, you can’t legally proceed. And because these drawings often require coordination between architectural and structural engineering services (for wood/steel/concrete), the cost will reflect that complexity.
It’s important to distinguish between municipal permit fees and the cost of drawing production. The fee charged by the city is not the same as what you pay for the drawing service. For example, in Toronto:
A minimum fee of CAD $206.53 applies for all work.
For most residential buildings (Group C in OBC terms), the fee may be based on units or floor area.
External sources confirm the minimum and that fees increase depending on size, scope and municipality.
What this tells us: the municipal fee is likely modest for smaller jobs, but the drawing cost (what you pay a designer/engineer) can be significantly higher depending on services required.
We’ve seen many variables that impact cost. Here’s what to look out for:
1. Project size and scope
A basement renovation will cost less than a full second-storey addition or new single-family home. According to design firms:
Small projects such as decks or accessory structures may cost a few thousand dollars.
Some firms use per-square-foot metrics: e.g., CAD $2 per ft² for simpler designs in Ontario.
2. Type of structure / complexity
Wood framing vs steel vs concrete all bring different engineering demands. If you’re using steel beams, concrete foundations or complex architectural geometry, the drawing and structural engineering cost increases. Since we provide services across steel, wood and concrete design, we factor in added hours for analysis, coordination and engineered plans.
3. Involvement of structural engineering
If your project involves load-bearing changes, new openings, or major structural components, you’ll need sealed structural drawings by a professional engineer. That adds cost.
4. Municipality / local review requirements
Some municipalities require more detailed documentation, extra drawings, or more reviews — which means more work for the design team and higher fees.
5. Number of revisions, coordination and changes
Every time you change your mind or revise drawings, that adds time (and therefore cost). A proper scope and timeline helps limit surprises.
Based on market observations (including what we see in the GTA) we can provide ballpark ranges to help you budget. Use these cautiously — every project is unique.
For a simple addition or basement conversion:
Drawing packages might range from CAD $2,000 – $5,000 if limited structural work. (Some sources cite “a few thousand dollars” for simple tasks).
If the design is more complicated (new stairs, steel support beams, framing changes), expect upward of CAD $5,000–8,000.
In the design market, permit-ready drawings for “working construction drawings” might be estimated at CAD $3.00–6.00 per ft² for typical scope.
Translating: for a 2,000 ft² addition, that could be CAD $6,000 – $12,000 in drawing fees, excluding structural engineering.
For premium custom homes (curved steel, heavy concrete, architectural complexity) fees will scale upward.
While we don’t have a fixed number, designers often move to a percentage of construction cost model. For example, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) suggests architectural/design fees based on a percentage of construction cost.
According to one Ontario-focused guide, “The fee for a building permit varies depending on the location of your municipality and the extent of construction work you have planned.”
Although this refers to permit fee rather than drawing cost directly, it reinforces the idea that scope and municipality drive cost.
When we prepare permit drawings for our clients, here are the components we factor in:
Site plan (showing property boundaries, existing and proposed structures, setbacks)
Floor plans (dimensions, room layout, door/window locations, load-bearing walls)
Elevations (front, rear, side views, exterior materials, rooflines)
Sections and details (foundation details, framing, roof, footings)
Structural drawings & calculations (in steel, wood or concrete as needed)
Code compliance annotations (fire separation, egress, insulation, structural loads)
Coordination (architectural + structural + any mechanical/plumbing if required)
Municipal submission and revisions (responding to reviewer comments, resubmissions)
These tasks consume significant time and expertise. So, when you see a higher-range quote, it’s often because multiple disciplines are involved (architect + structural engineer) and changes may arise through the municipal review.
When you’re reaching out to firms for quotes on the cost of building permit drawings, here are some questions to ask. We use them ourselves.
What is included in your drawing scope? (site plan, structural drawings, details?)
Does your cost include structural engineering seal/stamp? If so, for what components (wood, steel, concrete)?
How many revisions are included? Are additional revisions extra?
What’s the timeline for permit-ready drawings? Longer timelines often cost more.
Which municipality are you submitting to? Requirements differ across Toronto, Peel, York, Durham region.
By comparing apples to apples, you’ll see why one quote may be CAD $4,000 and another CAD $10,000 for ostensibly similar projects.
Because we value efficient design and cost-effectiveness, we share these tips:
Start with a clear scope: know precisely what you want (addition size, materials, loadings) and avoid late changes.
Simplify structural systems where feasible: say “standard wood framing” vs “exposed steel beams” if that fits.
Use existing design elements: if you’re replicating an existing footprint, changes are less work.
Bundle services: have architectural and structural teams coordinated from the start (reduces delays/revision costs).
Choose the right consultant for your region: a designer familiar with the GTA (Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa) knows local permit quirks.
Budget early for engineering support: structural engineer’s work is not optional if you have major changes. Treat it as part of the cost of drawings, not an extra later.
Since we operate in the GTA and surrounding Ontario cities, here’s what we observe:
Many homeowners expect drawing fees to be low—$1,000-$2,000—but unless the project is very minor (simple deck or small renovation) that number rarely covers the full work.
Municipalities like Toronto now require thorough submissions: missing structural details lead to resubmission and extra cost. For example, one article notes that hand-drawn sketch plans often get rejected because they omit structural framing or fire separation.
Structural engineers who handle steel design, wood design and concrete design raise the cost but reduce risk—so you trade off higher upfront cost for fewer change orders later.
For additions and new homes, we regularly see drawing packages between CAD $6,000-$12,000 in our region for work that includes structural engineering, architectural design and permit submission.
For very basic tasks (e.g., small deck or garage) drawing costs can be CAD $2,000-$4,000.
Here’s a quick checklist we provide to clients:
Municipal permit fee (City of Toronto minimum CAD $206.53, but will scale)
Drawing package fee — assess scope, structural engineering, architectural complexity
Structural engineering seal/stamp cost (if structural changes)
Revisions + resubmission risk — budget 10-20% contingency
Timeline implications — slower reviews may cost more in time, possibly contractor standby fees
Ensure alignment of materials, framing type, load-bearing changes ahead of design
By covering these five items, you’ll minimise surprises and keep your cost of building permit drawings under control.
In our experience at Rigid Frames, the cost of building permit drawings in Ontario for residential architectural design is driven by size, structural complexity, municipality, and number of revisions. Small jobs might cost a few thousand dollars, while full additions or new homes can run into tens of thousands. The key is: define the scope, engage both architectural and structural consultants early (whether for steel design, wood design or concrete design), and account for the municipal fees separately. With the right budget and planning, you’ll feel confident moving into the building permit submission phase rather than being surprised mid-project.
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