Essential
$50–$100/sq ft
A cosmetic refresh or simple fit-out of an existing space.
- New flooring, paint, and ceiling tiles
- A few new partitions and doors
- Lighting updates on existing circuits
- Existing washrooms and mechanical systems kept
GTA renovation services
Commercial renovation in the GTA
Commercial renovation covers fitting out or updating a business space such as an office, shop, restaurant, or clinic. Calico Designs and Renovations takes on commercial projects across the Greater Toronto Area, with a 3D rendering of the space you can approve before construction and a schedule built around your opening date. As a starting guide, commercial renovations run from about $50 to $200 or more per square foot.
Free first consultation and site visit, anywhere in the GTA.
What makes working with us different
See it in 3D before work starts
Ask for a full rendering of your project and approve the design before anything is built.
Your kitchen stays usable
We don’t demolish at contract signing. Your old kitchen stays in place through design and sign-off, then demolition and installation happen back to back. You are without a working kitchen for only 2 days.
Designed to your budget
We work within your budget, as long as it is realistic, and design from your mood board and inspiration photos.
What commercial renovation covers
Commercial renovation is building work in a space where business is done. The construction itself overlaps with residential work, but the priorities are different: the building code treats commercial occupancies more strictly, a landlord is usually involved, and every week of construction is a week of rent without revenue.
We take on three main kinds of commercial project.
Office renovation
Reconfiguring a floor for the way a team works now: fewer private offices, more meeting rooms, better lighting and acoustics, a proper kitchenette, and power and data where desks actually are. Offices are the least service-heavy commercial spaces and the quickest to turn around.
Retail renovation
A shop has to look right from the street and work behind the counter. Typical scope includes the sales floor layout, display millwork, lighting, flooring, a cash desk, fitting rooms, storage, and signage backing, all within the landlord’s design criteria in a plaza or mall.
Restaurant renovation
The most demanding fit-out. A restaurant needs a commercial kitchen with an exhaust hood and fire suppression, grease management on the drains, enough washrooms for its seating, and finishes that stand up to cleaning. It also answers to public health inspectors and, if licensed, to alcohol licensing rules.
Who it’s for
- Business owners taking a new lease who need the unit ready by a fixed date.
- Owners whose space no longer fits the business: a team that has grown, a shop that needs a new look.
- Landlords preparing a unit for a tenant.
- Professionals such as clinics and studios setting up a first location.
Signs your space needs work
- The layout forces staff or customers to work around it.
- Finishes are tired enough that customers notice.
- Washrooms or entrances don’t meet current accessibility expectations.
- Heating, cooling, or lighting generates daily complaints.
- You are changing what the business does in the space.
Seeing the space before you sign off
A commercial space is part of your brand, and it is hard to judge from a floor plan. You can ask for a full 3D rendering of the fit-out and approve it before construction. The same drawings help with landlord approval and can be shown to partners, staff, or lenders.
Our process
- Phone conversation. Tell us about the business, the space, the lease dates, and the budget.
- Free site visit. We look at the unit’s condition, services, and what the previous tenant left.
- Budget and design. We agree on a realistic budget per square foot and design to it, working from your brand and inspiration images.
- 3D rendering and approval. You approve the design before anything is built.
- Landlord and permit approvals. We prepare drawings and applications.
- Build. Scheduled around your opening date, or phased around your trading hours.
More on how we work is on our process page, and background on the company, its insurance, and its licensed trades is on our About page.
Timelines
Approvals are often the longest part of a commercial project, so start the conversation as early in your lease negotiation as you can. A free rent or fixturing period in the lease is there to be used for construction, and it is short.
TODO: owner to confirm Calico's typical commercial timelines.
Permits and approvals
Expect some combination of landlord approval, a municipal building permit, electrical inspection through the Electrical Safety Authority, fire department review, and, for food businesses, public health inspection. Our guide to renovation permits in Ontario covers the building permit side.
Commercial renovation cost: three price tiers
These ranges are average market prices in the GTA, per square foot of renovated space. Your project can cost less or more depending on your preferences. Your exact price comes after a free consultation and site visit, once we know your space, your finishes, and your budget.
Mid-range
$100–$200/sq ft
A full interior fit-out for an office or retail unit.
- New layout with offices, meeting rooms, or sales floor
- New lighting, power, and data
- Washrooms and a staff kitchenette
- Reception desk, millwork, and branded finishes
Premium
$200+/sq ft
Restaurants, clinics, and high-finish spaces with heavy services.
- Commercial kitchen, exhaust, and grease interceptor
- New or upgraded HVAC, plumbing, and electrical service
- Accessible washrooms and specialised rooms
- Custom millwork, feature lighting, and storefront work
What moves the price up or down
- Type of business. A restaurant or clinic needs far more plumbing, ventilation, and power than an office of the same size.
- Condition of the unit. A bare shell needs everything. A previously fitted unit may have washrooms, HVAC, and a ceiling you can keep.
- Change of use. Turning a shop into a restaurant, for example, triggers more code requirements than renovating like for like.
- Mechanical and electrical. Rooftop units, kitchen exhaust, and service upgrades are large single items.
- Schedule. After-hours or phased work to keep a business open costs more than working in an empty unit.
- Landlord requirements. Building standards, approved trades, and review fees vary by property.
Start with a free visit
We’ll look at the space, talk through your budget and inspiration, and tell you honestly what it can achieve.
Why homeowners trust us
Reviews
Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 37 reviews on HomeStars, as of November 2026.
Our own trades
Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and structural engineering are all done by our own team, not passed to outside companies, with working-at-heights certification on site.
TODO: check the licence wording against the certificates before launch.
Insured and covered
$5 million liability insurance, WSIB coverage, and an $11 million bond.
Warranty
Up to 8 years. The length depends on the project, and your warranty terms are written into your contract.
Awards
HomeStars Best of 2024 and 2025, TrustedPros Best of 2025, and Best of Houzz 2026.
TODO: add links to the TrustedPros and Houzz profiles.
Commercial renovation: questions we hear most
How much does a commercial renovation cost per square foot in the GTA?
As a starting guide, commercial renovations in the GTA run from about $50 to $100 per square foot for an essential refresh, $100 to $200 per square foot for a full office or retail fit-out, and $200 or more per square foot for restaurants, clinics, and other service-heavy spaces. Exact pricing follows a free site visit. These are average market prices and can be lower or higher depending on your preferences.
Do commercial renovations need a building permit in Ontario?
Most do. In Ontario a building permit is required for commercial interior alterations that add or remove partitions, change exits, alter plumbing, heating, ventilation, or sprinklers, or change the use of the space. Like-for-like cosmetic work such as paint and flooring generally does not need one. Restaurants also need public health and, where alcohol is served, licensing approvals.
Can you work while my business stays open?
Often, yes. Work can be phased area by area or scheduled for evenings and weekends so you keep trading. It takes longer and costs more than working in an empty unit, so we set out both options and you choose.
Do you handle the landlord's approval?
Yes. Most commercial leases require the landlord to approve drawings before work starts, and many set standards for contractors' insurance. We prepare the drawings and documents the landlord and the municipality need.
How long does a commercial fit-out take?
It depends on size and services. Allow time for design, landlord review, and the building permit before construction begins. If you have a lease start date or opening date, tell us at the first conversation so the schedule is built backward from it. TODO: owner to confirm Calico's typical commercial timelines.
What kinds of commercial spaces do you renovate?
Calico Designs and Renovations takes on office, retail, and restaurant renovations across the Greater Toronto Area, alongside its residential work.