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Basement apartments · Oakville & Burlington

Legal Basement Apartments

A separate, permitted second unit for family or a tenant, designed and built to code by one team.

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Basement apartments

A second home under your roof

A legal basement apartment can house a parent or an adult child, or bring in rental income. We design the unit around the rules for fire separation, exits, windows and ceiling height, handle the permit and inspections, and build it with a full kitchen, bathroom and its own entrance.

Basement apartment kitchen
Basement apartment kitchen and dining
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What a legal unit needs

Built to code, from day one

Separate entrance

Its own way in, often a side or walk-out entrance, so each unit has privacy.

Fire separation

Fire-rated walls, ceiling and doors between the two units.

Smoke and CO alarms

Interconnected alarms in both units, so a warning in one sounds in the other.

Bedroom windows

Egress windows big enough to climb out of in an emergency.

Ceiling height and light

Enough headroom and natural light in the living spaces.

Permit and inspections

A building permit, plus inspections at each stage, so the unit is legal.

The exact rules come from the Ontario Building Code and your city. We check your home against them at the consultation and design to meet them.

Basement cost estimator

What will your basement cost?

Gallery

View our work

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Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions?

Can my basement become a legal apartment?

Most can, but it depends on ceiling height, windows, a separate entrance and space for fire separation. We look at your basement at the consultation and tell you what it would take.

Basement apartments are at the top of our basement range, because of the kitchen, bathroom, entrance and code work. Use the estimator on this page for a rough range.

Yes. A second unit needs a building permit. We prepare the drawings and handle the permit and every inspection, in Oakville, Burlington and nearby.

Usually 8 to 14 weeks on site, after design and permits, depending on the entrance and how much plumbing is needed.

A legal, permitted unit can be rented. Talk to your accountant and insurer about the tax and insurance side.

Yes. Many clients build one for a parent or an adult child, with the option to rent it later.

Thinking about a basement apartment?

Book a free consultation. We’ll check your basement against the rules and give you a fixed quote.