A full home renovation is a big commitment, and the first question most people ask after "how much?" is "how long?" The honest answer is that most full home renovations in Toronto take roughly 6 to 14 months from the first meeting to moving back into finished rooms. Only part of that is construction. Planning, drawings and permits take up a lot of the calendar, and skipping ahead is where projects go sideways.
Here's a phase-by-phase home renovation timeline for Toronto and Mississauga homes, the order work usually happens in, and a checklist you can use to stay on track.
Home renovation timeline at a glance
| Phase | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Scope and budget | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Design and drawings | 1 to 3 months |
| Permits | A few weeks to a few months |
| Construction | 3 to 9 months |
| Final inspections and walkthrough | 1 to 2 weeks |
Some phases overlap. For example, cabinets and windows are often ordered while permits are under review.
Phase 1: Set the scope and budget
Start with what you want the house to do differently. More light, an open main floor, a kitchen, a second bathroom, or a finished basement? Rank your priorities so you know what to protect if the budget gets tight.
On full house renovation cost in Toronto, mid-range full interior renovations are often quoted at roughly $150 to $250 per square foot in 2026, with high-end finishes and structural work running higher. Set aside a contingency of 10 to 20%, especially in older homes where you won't know what's behind the walls until demolition.
Phase 2: Design and drawings
Any work that needs a permit needs drawings. Depending on the project, those come from a qualified designer (BCIN), an architect, and often a structural engineer for wall removals, beams or additions. This is also when your plans get checked against zoning. If your project doesn't meet the zoning bylaw, for example an addition that's too close to the lot line, you may need a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment, which can add months.
Phase 3: Permits in Toronto and Mississauga
Do you need a permit to renovate your house? It depends on the work, but full home renovations almost always include something that needs one.
Work that usually needs a building permit
Both the City of Toronto and the City of Mississauga generally require a permit for:
- Adding or removing walls, or other structural changes
- New window or door openings, or enlarging existing ones
- Adding, removing or relocating plumbing fixtures
- Installing or changing heating and plumbing systems
- Finishing a basement when it includes structural changes, new plumbing or a second unit
- Underpinning, a new basement entrance, or an addition
- Decks more than 60 cm (about 2 feet) above the ground
Work that usually doesn't
- Painting, flooring and installing cabinets
- Replacing plumbing fixtures in the same location
- Replacing windows or doors in the same size opening in a house
- Minor repairs and basement waterproofing repairs
Electrical work is handled separately through the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
How long do permits take?
Under the Ontario Building Code, a city has 10 business days to review a complete permit application for a house. In practice, the full permit stage often takes several weeks once you count preparing drawings, answering examiner comments and resubmitting. Projects that need a zoning variance take longer. A complete, well-prepared application is the best way to keep this phase short.
Phase 4: The order of work on site
If you're wondering what order to renovate a house in, most full renovations follow this sequence:
- Protection and demolition. Seal off areas, then remove what's being replaced. Homes built before the 1990s may need testing for asbestos in materials like plaster, old flooring or vermiculite insulation before they're disturbed.
- Structural work. New beams, framing, openings and any foundation work.
- Rough-ins. Plumbing, heating and ductwork, then electrical. This is where old knob-and-tube wiring is usually replaced.
- Rough-in inspections. The city and ESA inspect before walls are closed.
- Insulation and inspection. Insulation and vapour barrier go in, then get inspected.
- Drywall. Hang, tape, mud and prime.
- Finishes. Cabinets, tile, flooring, trim, doors and paint.
- Fixtures. Lights, plumbing fixtures, hardware and appliances.
- Final inspections and walkthrough. Close out permits and work through a deficiency list.
Working in this order means you aren't tearing open finished walls to fix something that should have been caught earlier.
Local factors that can stretch the timeline
- Etobicoke bungalows. Many were built in the 1950s and 60s and often need electrical panel upgrades, plumbing updates and plaster repairs once walls are opened.
- Mississauga semis. Work along the shared wall has to respect the fire separation and your neighbour's side, which affects how that wall is opened and rebuilt.
- Older Toronto homes. Knob-and-tube wiring, old galvanized pipes and uneven framing are common finds.
- Lead times and weather. Custom cabinets, windows and stone can take weeks, and exterior work slows down in winter.
Home renovation checklist
- List your priorities and must-haves
- Set a budget with a 10 to 20% contingency
- Get drawings and, if needed, an engineer
- Confirm which permits you need, in Toronto or Mississauga
- Get an itemized quote and a written schedule
- Confirm the contractor's liability insurance and WSIB coverage
- Order long-lead items early
- Plan where you'll live or which rooms you'll use during the work
- Keep permit and ESA documents for your records
How Levand manages a full renovation
Levand Construction handles full interior renovations and additions across Etobicoke, Toronto, Mississauga and the GTA. See how we work: our team manages permitting and code compliance, coordinating directly with the city so you don't have to. Our own crew does the work on the agreed timeline, with regular updates as it progresses, and we finish with a full walkthrough together. On larger renovations, some rooms may need to be closed off for parts of the job, and we'll walk you through what to expect before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a full home renovation take in Toronto?
Most full home renovations in Toronto take roughly 6 to 14 months from planning to completion, with about 3 to 9 months of that on site. Scope, permits, structural work and material lead times make the biggest difference.
Do I need a permit to renovate my house in Toronto or Mississauga?
You generally need a permit for structural changes, new or enlarged window and door openings, adding or relocating plumbing fixtures, heating changes, additions, and basement finishing that includes new plumbing, structural work or a second unit. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring and cabinets usually doesn't need one.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Toronto?
The Ontario Building Code gives the city 10 business days to review a complete application for a house. With drawings, comments and resubmissions, the permit stage often takes several weeks, and longer if you need a zoning variance.
What order should you renovate a house in?
Demolition first, then structural work, then plumbing, heating and electrical rough-ins, inspections, insulation, drywall, finishes and fixtures, with final inspections at the end.
Can I live in my house during a full renovation?
Sometimes. It depends on the scope. For larger renovations, parts of the home may be closed off for stretches of the work, and some families choose to move out during the heaviest phases.
Planning a full home renovation in Etobicoke, Toronto or Mississauga? Call Levand Construction at (647) 390-7633 or talk to us about your renovation.
