Item - 2025.PH19.4

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Requested the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building to:

a. Review the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Ontario-specific permit-ready design packages for row houses, fourplexes, sixplexes, and accessory dwelling units for certification under Toronto Building’s Certified Plans Program to enable these designs to be used as part of a building permit application; and

b. Publicize any streamlined approval processes available for these designs under the Certified Plans program, including through the City of Toronto website and through industry communications.

The purpose of this report is to respond to City Council direction that the Chief Building Official and Executive Director, Toronto Building, review and strengthen processes to facilitate approvals and support permit applicants who are proposing modular and factory-built buildings, and to review and streamline Toronto Building’s Certified Plans Program.

Toronto Building's Certified Plans Program allows applicants to have a proposed building design reviewed by Toronto Building against the Ontario Building Code (the Code) for the purpose of repeated use in the city. If it is determined that the design meets the Code requirements and is "certified" by Toronto Building it can be used repeatedly by the applicant in the city with subsequent permit applications without having to undergo full code review; site-specific reviews, such as zoning bylaw confirmation, are still required.

The Certified Plans Program has largely been used to date by applicants seeking approvals for tents and portable classrooms. Toronto Building has now expanded the program to include plans for solar domestic hot water systems, garden suites, laneway suites, houses, multiplexes, and other residential building types including modular modes of construction. By taking advantage of the Certified Plans Program, builders can avoid delays in the building permit review process and reduce unnecessary design fees and engineering costs.

Toronto Building has also taken actions to support permit applicants and manufacturers of modular and factory-built construction. Where factories are certified to a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) industry standard "CSA A277, Procedures for Factory Certification of Buildings", the City will no longer conduct inspections of buildings at the manufacturers' facilities. Building inspectors will rely on the Canadian Standards Association Standard, resulting in time and cost saving opportunities for both the manufacturer, permit applicants and Toronto Building Inspectors.

The actions taken by Toronto Building in response to industry feedback to reduce design costs and timelines will make it easier for builders, designers, and homeowners to build more housing units in the city faster. 

To support successful implementation of these service changes, Toronto Building has also reviewed and revised applicable forms, developed client-facing materials, and is in the process of training staff. The Division will continue to engage with the industry, as requested by City Council, to address Building Code-related challenges that may be impeding the design and construction of “missing middle” housing and report to the Planning and Housing Committee in the third quarter of 2025.