Basements, Additions & Outdoor
Legal Basement Apartments
Secondary suites built to the Ontario Building Code and Fire Code, with the permit, egress and fire separation done properly.
- Free Written Quotes
- Permit Guidance
- One Point of Contact
- 36 Ontario Communities
Ontario Renovation Company
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.
We take a basement apartment from idea to occupancy: checking what your property allows, coordinating drawings, applying for the permit, building the suite with a kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms, and booking inspections. Many suites need a separate entrance, which we can build at the side or rear of the house.
The process
From first visit to final walk-through
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.
Locations
Legal Basement Apartments by city
Durham Region
Scarborough & York Region
Northumberland & Quinte
Peterborough & the Kawarthas
South Simcoe & Dufferin
Hamilton
Brant, Haldimand & Norfolk
Cambridge & Oxford County
Questions
Legal Basement Apartments: FAQs
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.
How long does a basement apartment take?+
Permit approval and the extent of the work set the timeline. Your written quote includes both the permit stage and the construction schedule.
Often paired with garden suites and detached ADUs, basement finishing and bathroom renovations.
Let's plan your renovation.
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.