Toronto Express Permit Services in 2026: 3-Day Review for Qualifying Projects

If you qualify for Toronto's Express Services, your building permit application could be reviewed in 3 business days. That's not a typo — three days, compared to 10–30 for standard streams.

Formerly known as "Residential FASTRACK" and "Commercial Xpress," Express Services is Toronto Building's fast lane for smaller, straightforward projects. Here's exactly what qualifies, how to submit, and what happens after.

What Is Express Services?

Express Services is a dedicated review stream for building permit applications that are:

• Smaller in scope
• Lower in complexity
• Well-documented at submission

The City's goal is to complete the review within 3 business days after intake. If approved, the permit is typically issued within 1 business day after you pay the fee.

Best case: about a week from submission to permit in hand.

Source: Express Building Permits (toronto.ca)

What Qualifies: Residential Projects

The following residential projects are eligible for Express Services:

• Decks, porches, and carports — See our deck checklist
• Detached garages and sheds (ancillary structures)
• Interior alterations (non-structural and structural)
• Basement walkouts and underpinning — See our basement guide
• Party wall work (with enhanced submission requirements)
• Minor fire damage repair
• 1-to-2 unit conversions
• Stand-alone plumbing and drain permits
• Solar panels on existing buildings

What Qualifies: Commercial Projects

If you're a business owner or commercial tenant:

• Interior alterations to Assembly/Industrial (Group A & F) up to 300 m²
• Interior alterations to Business/Office/Retail/Restaurants under 30 seats (Group D & E) up to 600 m²
• Tents (including certified tents)
• Minor fire damage repair
• Stand-alone maglocks
• Solar panels

What Does NOT Qualify

These projects go through standard review streams (10–30 business days):

• Additions to dwellings — goes to House Stream (10 days)
• Garden suites and laneway suites — House Stream (10 days), though pre-approved plans speed things up
• Heritage properties — additional heritage review required
• Attached garages and carports — House Stream
• Sign master plans
• New homes

The pattern: if it changes the building envelope or adds to it, it's not Express. If it's work within or beside the existing structure, it probably is.

How to Submit

Express applications are submitted in one of three ways, depending on the project:

Online Portal (Preferred for Small Residential)

For decks, porches, garages, carports, and sheds, use Toronto's online submission portal: → Apply for a Building Permit (toronto.ca)

Email (Other Residential & Commercial)

For other Express-eligible residential and commercial projects: → bldapplications@toronto.ca

Email (Sign Permits)

→ expressservices@toronto.ca

Whichever method you use, include all required documents. Incomplete submissions will be flagged, delayed, or cancelled.

What Happens After You Submit

Here's the Express Services workflow:

1. Intake Assessment

Your application is received and checked for completeness. Missing documents? The intake team will flag them.

2. Examiner Review (Target: 3 Business Days)

An examiner reviews your application against the Ontario Building Code and zoning requirements.

3. One of Three Outcomes:

Approved: You receive a payment request. Pay the fee (credit card up to $20,000 or EFT), and the permit is issued — typically within 1 business day.

Minor Deficiencies: The examiner contacts you (or your authorized agent) to resolve. This might be a missing dimension on a drawing or a clarification about materials. Respond quickly and the review continues.

Major Deficiencies: The application is cancelled. You'll need to fix the issues and resubmit from scratch. This resets the clock — which is why getting it right the first time matters.

Tips for a Smooth Express Review

Submit Complete Applications

The 3-day target only applies to complete applications. Missing a site plan? Forgot to include post footing details on your deck drawing? That's a deficiency notice and lost time.

Use Current Forms

As of February 16, 2026, Toronto requires the updated Application to Construct or Demolish form for ALL submissions. Using an old form? Application rejected at intake. Download current forms from the Toronto Building Forms Index.

Include Clear Drawings

Express examiners are reviewing fast. Help them by providing drawings that are:

• To scale
• Clearly dimensioned
• Showing all structural details
• Legible (no coffee stains, no pencil sketches that have been photocopied four times)

Check Zoning First

Even Express projects need to comply with zoning. If your deck exceeds setback limits or your garage pushes you over lot coverage, the examiner will catch it — and your 3-day review becomes a much longer conversation.

Not sure about zoning? Check your project requirements before you submit.

Common Express-Eligible Projects & Their Fees

For a full fee breakdown, see our 2026 permit fees guide.

Express Services vs. DIY: Do You Need Help?

Express applications are among the simplest to submit yourself — that's the whole point of the stream. If you're comfortable preparing basic drawings and filling out the application form, a deck permit or shed permit is very doable as a DIY project.

Where a permit service adds value even with Express:

• You don't have time to prepare drawings
• You want someone to handle the examiner communication
• You've never pulled a permit and don't want to risk a "major deficiency" cancellation

See our honest comparison of DIY vs. permit services.

Ready to Go Express?

Express Services is the fastest way to get a Toronto building permit. Three days. $214.79 for most projects. No reason to delay your deck, shed, or renovation.

Check if your project qualifies for Express or let PermitEasy submit your Express application — we'll have your documents ready and submitted within days.

Your project is simple. Your permit process should be too.