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Toronto · Trades & contractors

Licences and permits to operate as a building renovator or general contractor in Toronto

To operate as a building renovator or general contractor in Toronto, our list has one item: the Building Renovator licence, issued by Municipal Licensing & Standards.

Everything on this list is municipal, so the City of Toronto is your main point of contact. The published application-plus-licence total for the Building Renovator licence is $495.12.

The notes mention a certificate or exam; those steps depend on other people's schedules, so they are worth starting early.

Requirements
1
Issuers
1
Provincial
0
Last verified
Oct 31, 2026

What you'll need

Last verified:

  1. 01Building Renovator licence

    Municipal

    Issued by: City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards

    Required for any business that repairs or renovates buildings or advertises renovation services; applicants must pass an online Building Renovator Trade Examination.

    Fees as published

    • Application fee: $234.62
    • Licence fee: $260.50
    • Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $495.12
    • Renewal fee: $293.14 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified October 1, 2026)
    • Building Renovator Trade Examination fee: $79.65 (inclusive of GST)
    View on toronto.ca — City of Toronto page(opens in a new tab)

    Last verified:

This is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the municipality before opening.

FAQ

Building Renovator / General Contractor in Toronto: common questions

What licences do I need to operate as a building renovator or general contractor in Toronto?
Our list has one item: Building Renovator licence. Confirm with the City of Toronto before opening.
How much do the licences cost to operate as a building renovator or general contractor in Toronto?
Published fees: Building Renovator licence: Application fee: $234.62; Licence fee: $260.50; Total fee (Application fee + Licence fee): $495.12; Renewal fee: $293.14 (as listed on toronto.ca, page modified October 1, 2026); Building Renovator Trade Examination fee: $79.65 (inclusive of GST). Fees change; check the linked page for the current amount.
Who issues these licences and permits?
City of Toronto — Municipal Licensing & Standards (Building Renovator licence).
Do I need anything from the Province of Ontario?
The City of Toronto pages we reviewed don't list a provincial requirement for this type of business. Other registrations, such as registering a business name or a tax account, can still apply depending on how you set up.
How current is this information?
Each item was last checked against the linked page on October 31, 2026. Rules and fees change, so open the linked page and confirm with the issuer before you apply. This is general guidance, not legal advice.

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Next steps

Before you apply

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