An open building permit can turn into a closing-week problem. Title insurance may help with some title-related losses, but I wouldn't assume it will pay for a permit issue at a particular Greater Sudbury property. The practical move is to check the permit record early and have your lawyer review the actual policy.
Why this came up in November 2025
At the City of Greater Sudbury's November 13 Future-Ready Development Services Ad-Hoc Committee meeting, local real-estate lawyers discussed permit issues that can delay transactions. In contemporary reporting on the meeting, the lawyers estimated that these issues arose in roughly one-third of local real-estate transactions. That's their estimate from practice, not a City count of every home sale or a measured comparison with other Ontario markets.
One reason an issue can go unnoticed is that work may be finished while the permit file remains open. The City's open-permit search and status guide says a final inspection is needed to complete and close a building permit. An address search is a useful starting point, but the status and the work behind it may need a conversation with Building Services.
What title insurance does—and doesn't settle
Title insurance can protect an owner or lender against losses described in the policy, including certain title defects, liens and fraud. It is not a blanket warranty for renovation work. Ontario's insurance regulator, FSRA, advises buyers to read what their policy covers and excludes and to discuss the decision with a lawyer. Coverage can differ by insurer, policy and property.
The lawyers' November discussion, as reported locally, described permit-related exclusions or limits in Greater Sudbury policies. That is a reason to ask a specific question—not proof that every insurer excludes every permit problem. Ask your lawyer what the proposed policy would cover if the property has an open permit, an unpermitted alteration or a municipal order. Get the answer before relying on insurance as the solution.
What I'd check before the closing week
- If you're selling: search your property's permit record and gather approvals, inspection records and renovation documents you have. If a permit is still open, ask the City what is needed to resolve it before the sale is under time pressure.
- If you're buying: ask about the permit history for work that matters to your decision. Review the City's record with your lawyer and, where appropriate, a qualified inspector or contractor; a listing description alone is not a permit clearance.
- On either side: have your lawyer explain any policy exclusion or coverage limit for the actual property. Whether a concern affects conditions, timing or closing documents is transaction-specific.
These checks fit into a wider buyer preparation plan or seller consultation. Raising a permit question early leaves time to investigate it before everyone expects to move.
Expect Moore for Your Real Estate!
Chad Moore | Lake City Realty LTD Brokerage