Basements, Additions & Outdoor · Scarborough
Legal Basement Apartments in Scarborough
Secondary suites built to the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code, with the permit, egress and fire separation done properly.
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Scarborough, Scarborough & York Region
Legal Basement Apartments in Scarborough
Demand for legal basement apartments in Scarborough is strong, whether for rental income, a parent moving closer or a young adult who wants their own space. Many post-war bungalows, back-splits and townhomes in Agincourt, Malvern and Wexford have basements well suited to a secondary suite.
Secondary suites in Scarborough are approved by the City of Toronto, which sets its own zoning, parking and entrance rules on top of the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code. We check what your lot allows, coordinate drawings and the permit, then build the suite and book inspections through to final sign-off.
We also bring existing Scarborough basement units up to code: assessing fire separation, exits, ceiling height and alarms, and doing the permit and work needed to make the suite legal.
Call (647) 424-1511 or send the form on this page for a free basement apartment quote in Scarborough. Tell us what you want to change, add a few photos of the space, and we will book a visit and send a written quote that lists the scope, the materials, the permits involved and the schedule.
Scarborough homes
What legal basement apartments involves in Scarborough's houses
Post-war bungalows and back-splits in Scarborough
Scarborough's post-war bungalows are among the best houses for a basement apartment. The side door at grade often gives the suite its own entrance, the footprint gives room for a kitchen, bathroom and one or two bedrooms, and the Building Code includes some allowances for houses that have stood for years.
1970s to 1990s family homes in Scarborough
Scarborough homes from the 1970s to the 1990s often have basements with good ceiling height and a layout suited to a one- or two-bedroom suite. The most common challenges are a separate entrance, where a new walk-down stairwell may be needed, and separating the heating and ventilation between units.
Rules in Scarborough
Permits and approvals for legal basement apartments in Scarborough
Building permits
Building permits in Scarborough are issued by the City of Toronto. Electrical work anywhere in Ontario is done by a licensed electrical contractor under an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit. We confirm what your project needs before you sign and book every inspection.
Additional residential units
Since the province's More Homes Built Faster Act (2022), most urban serviced lots in Ontario with a detached house, semi or townhouse can have up to three units: the main home plus two additional units, one of which may be in a separate building. Municipalities still set zoning details, and the province limits how much parking they can require. The City of Toronto applies these rules locally, and every unit needs a building permit and must meet the Building Code and Fire Code.
Testing before demolition
Homes built before the 1990s can contain asbestos in plaster, textured ceilings, floor tile, vermiculite insulation and pipe wrap, and homes from before the 1960s often have lead paint. In Scarborough's older houses we test suspect materials before demolition and handle them by the regulations if they are found.
The service
Legal Basement Apartments, Built to Code
A legal basement apartment, also called a secondary suite or additional residential unit, can bring in rental income, house a family member or help an adult child stay close to home. Ontario's rules now allow additional units in many houses, but a suite is only legal when it is built under a building permit and meets the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code.
The details that make a suite legal are the same ones that make it safe: fire separation between the units, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a proper exit and egress windows from bedrooms, adequate ceiling height, separate heating considerations, and the right electrical and plumbing. Zoning, parking and entrance requirements vary from one municipality to the next.
More about legal basement apartments →The process
How your Scarborough project comes together
01
Consultation
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We visit, measure and talk through options.
02
Written Quote
A clear scope, materials, permits and schedule, in writing. No vague allowances.
03
Permits & Planning
Drawings, permits and material orders lined up before demolition starts.
04
Build & Walk-Through
Work done in the right order, inspected where required, and walked through with you at the end.
Across Scarborough
Legal Basement Apartments throughout Scarborough
Scarborough has post-war bungalows and back-splits in Wexford, Dorset Park and Cliffside, larger homes along the Bluffs, and townhomes and condos across Agincourt, Malvern and the City Centre.
Questions
Legal Basement Apartments in Scarborough: FAQs
How do I get a legal basement apartments quote in Scarborough?+
Call (647) 424-1511, use the form on this page or email info@ontariorenovationcompany.com. Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos, and we will book a visit and send a written quote for your Scarborough project.
What kinds of Scarborough homes do you work on?+
All of them. Housing in Scarborough includes post-war bungalows and back-splits and 1970s to 1990s family homes, and each comes with its own considerations, from older wiring and foundations to builder warranties, septic systems and shoreline rules. We plan the work around the house you actually have.
Can I legally put an apartment in my basement?+
In many Ontario municipalities, yes. Provincial rules allow additional residential units in many houses, but zoning, lot, parking and entrance rules vary locally, and every unit needs a building permit. We check what your property allows before you commit.
What makes a basement apartment legal?+
It must be built under a building permit and pass inspection, meeting the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code for fire separation, exits, egress windows, ceiling height, alarms, electrical and plumbing.
Does a basement apartment need a separate entrance?+
Often, though requirements depend on the municipality and the layout. A side or rear entrance with a properly built stairwell is a common part of our suite projects.
Can you legalize an existing basement apartment?+
Often, yes. We assess the existing suite against the code, list what needs to change, such as fire separation, alarms, egress or ceiling height, and handle the permit and work to bring it into compliance.
Do you offer legal basement apartments across Scarborough?+
Yes. We work throughout Scarborough, including Agincourt, Malvern, Wexford, Birch Cliff, Cliffside, Guildwood, West Hill, Highland Creek and Scarborough Village, and in nearby Markham, Pickering, Ajax, Richmond Hill and Stouffville.
More renovation services in Scarborough
Alongside legal basement apartments, we also handle garden suites and detached ADUs, basement finishing and bathroom renovations in Scarborough, so related work can be planned together.
Other basements, additions & outdoor services in Scarborough: basement finishing, garden suites & detached adus, home additions and decks & outdoor living.
Further reading
Your Scarborough renovation, done properly.
Tell us what you want to change and send a few photos. We will book a visit and send a clear written quote, with no obligation.