How much does demolition cost in Toronto?
Declared values on Toronto demolition permits — full and partial, houses through commercial structures.
The full spread, not an average
| Percentile | Declared value |
|---|---|
| P25 — smaller jobs | $30K |
| Median | $98K |
| P75 — larger jobs | $550K |
| Largest in sample | $36.0M |
36 permits with a declared value, trailing 36 months. Medians and quartiles only — one outlier can't move them.
Why two of these quote differently
- Structure size and storeys, and whether a basement and foundation come out.
- Designated substances: asbestos, lead and mould surveys are mandatory before permit, and abatement often exceeds the demolition itself.
- Site access — a detached house on a wide lot is a machine job; a semi or downtown infill is partly by hand.
- Disconnection of services and the required hoarding and dust control.
Check it against the record
| Applied | Address | Declared value |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | 245 TORRENS AVE
Proposal to demolish existing dwelling and construct a new three-storey single family... |
$10,000 |
| Jul 2026 | 47 ST HUBERT AVE
Demolish the existing detached 1-storey SFD as well as the rear yard detached garage,... |
$650,000 |
| Jul 2026 | 218 COLDSTREAM AVE
Proposal for demolition of existing single storey building, filling basement to grade... |
$25,000 |
| Jun 2026 | 18 GALBRAITH AVE
Proposal to demolish existing dwelling and construct 2 new multi unit (5 units) dwelling. |
$50,000 |
Where these numbers come from
Declared construction values on City of Toronto building permits (tier C), trailing
36 months, minimum 12 permits before a guide is published. A declared value is
what the applicant stated the work is worth — it can sit below final hard cost,
which is exactly why GROUND also publishes
awarded contract prices.
Demolition folders often accompany a new-build permit; the pair is how GROUND detects a teardown-to-rebuild before construction starts.
Data: Open Government Licence — Toronto. Recomputed automatically as new
permits land; the figures above are current as of August 19, 2026.
Interior fit-outs · New houses · Underpinning · Laneway & garden suites · Additions · Garages