Ontario Design Studio prepares BCIN-certified commercial building permit drawings for retail stores, restaurants, offices, medical clinics, industrial units, and mixed-use spaces across Ontario. Commercial projects carry heavier code obligations than homes - occupancy loads, barrier-free accessibility, fire and life-safety systems, and coordinated mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design. We prepare a complete, examiner-ready submission and coordinate the engineering your occupancy requires, so your fit-out opens on schedule.
What Needs a Commercial Building Permit in Ontario
Most commercial work triggers a building permit. You will typically need one when you:
- Complete an interior tenant improvement or fit-out - new partitions, ceilings, or finishes
- Open a restaurant or commercial kitchen with cooking equipment and exhaust
- Change the use or occupancy of a unit (for example, retail to restaurant, or warehouse to gym)
- Add or relocate washrooms, plumbing, or mechanical and electrical systems
- Alter the structure, exiting, or fire separations
- Build new demising walls between units
Planning a commercial fit-out?
Ontario Design Studio delivers coordinated, OBC-compliant commercial permit drawings across Ontario and the GTA. Call 416-558-9607 or request your free quote.
OBC Part 3 vs. Part 9: Which Applies to You
The Ontario Building Code splits work into two design streams, and knowing which one applies determines who can stamp your drawings:
- Part 9 - smaller buildings, generally up to 600 m² and three storeys. Many small retail and office fit-outs fall here and can be designed by a BCIN-qualified designer.
- Part 3 - larger or higher-risk buildings, plus most assembly (restaurants, gyms), care, and hazardous occupancies. Part 3 demands rigorous fire and life-safety, barrier-free, and occupancy-load design, prepared under the appropriate BCIN qualification or by a licensed architect or engineer.
We confirm your project's classification up front and bring in structural engineering and MEP support where the Code requires it.
What's in Our Commercial Permit Package
- Life-safety / fire plan - occupancy classification, exiting, travel distances, and fire separations
- Occupancy-load calculations confirming capacity and required exits and washrooms
- Barrier-free design - accessible entrances, washrooms, and paths of travel per OBC 3.8
- Architectural floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, and finishes
- Coordinated MEP notes and, where required, full mechanical, electrical, and plumbing drawings
- Schedule 1 and any required Commitment to General Review
Commercial Projects We Handle
- Retail stores - storefronts, demising walls, tenant improvements
- Restaurants & commercial kitchens - hoods, grease exhaust, and occupancy
- Offices & professional suites - open plans, meeting rooms, accessibility
- Medical & dental clinics - plumbing, ventilation, and barrier-free design
- Industrial & warehouse units - mezzanines, racking, and life safety
- Change-of-use conversions between occupancy types
Commercial Permit Drawing Costs
Commercial permit drawings typically range from $5,000 to $15,000 or more, depending on size, occupancy type, and how much mechanical, electrical, and structural engineering is required. This is separate from municipal permit fees. See our complete 2026 cost guide for a full breakdown.
Cities We Serve for Commercial Permits
Related Resources
- Restaurant Fit-Out & Commercial Kitchen Drawings
- MEP Drawings - HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical
- Structural Engineering Drawings
- Commercial Permit Timelines in Ontario
- Building Permit Drawing Cost Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a commercial tenant improvement or fit-out in Ontario?
Yes. Interior alterations, new partitions, plumbing or mechanical changes, and any change of use or occupancy in a commercial space require a building permit with OBC-compliant drawings. Even a simple retail or office fit-out usually triggers a permit once you move walls, add washrooms, or change how the space is used.
What is OBC Part 3 and does my commercial project fall under it?
Part 3 of the Ontario Building Code governs larger and more complex buildings - generally those over 600 m² or more than three storeys, plus most assembly, care, and higher-hazard occupancies. Part 3 projects require more rigorous fire and life-safety, barrier-free, and occupancy-load design, and must be prepared by a designer with the appropriate BCIN qualification or a licensed architect or engineer. Smaller projects fall under Part 9.
How long do commercial permit drawings take in Ontario?
Commercial permit drawings typically take two to four weeks to prepare depending on the size and complexity of the fit-out, plus any required mechanical, electrical, and plumbing coordination. Municipal review times vary by jurisdiction and occupancy type. We prepare a complete, coordinated submission to reduce back-and-forth with the examiner.