Commercial Renovation & Tenant Improvement Permit
Permit drawings for commercial renovations and tenant improvements in existing buildings. We review the proposed business use, existing unit and affected building systems before the layout is finalized.
What a commercial tenant-improvement package can include
Depending on the building, use and agreed scope, 828 Design can prepare and coordinate:
- existing and proposed floor plans with room/use labels and key dimensions
- partition, door, ceiling and interior construction information
- exit, occupant-load and fire/life-safety information required for the permit
- barrier-free/accessibility layouts and washroom alterations where applicable
- plumbing, HVAC/mechanical and Building Code-related lighting/power information within applicable registered scope
- building-structural information within applicable scope and coordination of separately regulated professional input where required
What we check before the tenant layout is locked in
The lease area may look suitable, but the proposed business use can change what the building needs.
- whether the proposed use is permitted by zoning and whether a change-of-use review is triggered
- existing permit history, current recognized use and available base-building information
- number and arrangement of exits and travel paths
- washrooms, barrier-free path of travel and accessibility implications
- fire separations, alarm/sprinkler conditions and other life-safety systems affected by the work
- plumbing, ventilation/HVAC, structural or other technical changes required by the proposed operation
Commercial fit-out versus change of use
A unit can be renovated without changing its use, or the new tenant can trigger a change in how the space is classified or used. Ontario’s Building Code Act can require a change-of-use permit even where no construction is proposed if the change results in an increase in hazard. We therefore confirm the existing and proposed use before treating a project as a simple renovation.
Common commercial-renovation questions
Do I need a permit if I am only changing the interior?
Possibly. Interior work involving partitions, exits, washrooms, building systems, structural changes or other regulated construction can require a permit even when the exterior is untouched.
Can I sign a lease before checking whether my business use is allowed?
You can, but from a project-risk standpoint the use and zoning should be checked early. A space that worked for the previous tenant may not automatically work for a different business.
Can the landlord’s old drawings be used?
They are useful reference material, but the existing conditions and current permit information still need to match the space being designed.
Will accessibility upgrades be required?
They can be triggered by the extent and type of alteration and by the existing building. We review the applicable barrier-free requirements rather than assuming the existing layout can remain unchanged.
Do I need separate HVAC, plumbing or structural information?
It depends on what the fit-out changes. We coordinate applicable technical permit information within our registered qualifications and identify separate professional responsibility where required.
Can construction start while the permit is under review?
Permit-required work should not begin before the permit is issued. Starting early can create enforcement, inspection and redesign problems.
After the commercial permit is issued
The contractor should build from the approved permit documents and arrange the required inspections. Material changes to layout, exits, fire/life-safety systems, plumbing, HVAC/mechanical or structure should be reviewed before they are constructed because revised permit information may be required.
What to send for a quote
- property address, unit number and municipality
- business name and clear description of the proposed use
- existing floor plan, landlord/base-building drawings or prior permit plans if available
- photos of the full tenant unit, entrances, exits, washrooms and mechanical areas
- approximate unit area and desired room/layout program
- any landlord criteria, city comments, zoning review or existing permit information
Related commercial / industrial permit services
Change of Use Permit & Occupancy Review · Retail & Office Renovation Permit Design · Barrier-Free Upgrades · Unit Demising Permit
828 Design Inc. — BCIN building design & permit services. Content reviewed for current Ontario permit context: August 2026. Zoning, licensing, occupancy and permit requirements are confirmed for the actual property, municipality and written project scope. Qualifications & responsibility →
Planning a commercial renovation or tenant fit-out?
Send the unit address, proposed business use and any existing drawings. We can identify the permit-design scope before the renovation goes too far.