Permits - Finished Basements/Basement Apartments

If you are finishing your basement you may require a building or plumbing permit, or both. A building permit is required if the proposed work involves additional sleeping accomodations or structural alterations. A plumbing permit is required for additional plumbing fixtures or alteration to existing plumbing fixtures. In addition, if your home is serviced by an on-site private sewage disposal system, a septic permit may be required. Our downloadable Building Permit Guide for Homeowners PDF will assist with your application process. Please note: Finishing a basement where no structural alterations or plumbing is proposed, does not require a permit. 

Permit Fees For Residential Renovations / Alterations (Finished Basements):

  • Finished basement fee - $100.00 
  • Plumbing fee is $12.00 per fixture or minimum fee $75.00

Second Suites (Basement Apartments)

The Town of Aurora Zoning By-law #2213-78, as amended, was further amended on April 13, 2010 to permit second suites (basement apartments).

Second suites are now permitted in detached dwellings, semi-detached dwellings and link house dwellings subject to certain zoning provisions. Therefore, owners of homes which contain second suites are required to comply with the zoning by-law and to register their houses with Building & By-law Services and may be required to obtain a Building Permit for their second suite. Homeowners wishing to construct a second suite are also required to obtain a Building Permit and register their second suite.

Owners will be required to meet the following conditions prior to the registration of a house containing a second suite:

(i) each dwelling unit in a two-unit house shall be inspected to ensure that it complies with all relevant standards set out in the Building Code and the Fire Code;

(ii) the owner shall ensure that each unit is equipped with an operable smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector to the satisfaction of the Inspector;

(iii) the owner shall provide the Registrar with a letter of compliance from the Electrical Safety Authority;

(iv) the owner shall pay a one-time, non-refundable registration fee as set out in By-law No. 5221-10;

(v) where work is required to be undertaken by the owner and said work does not require a building permit, the owner shall pay a re-inspection fee as set out in By-law No. 5221-10; and

(vi) the owner shall submit a completed application form provided by the Town.

Exception

The owners of two-unit houses that were occupied on or prior to November 16, 1995, or the owners of any legally existing two-unit houses, shall not be required to register said two-unit houses as required by By-law No. 5221-10.

A second suite that was in existence on or prior to November 16, 1995, which has not yet been inspected by Central York Fire Services, should be inspected by Central York Fire Services, at the request of the homeowner. Fire Services will inform the homeowner of any required retrofit in order to bring the second suite into compliance with Section 9.8 of the Ontario Fire Code. Homeowners are advised to contact Central York Fire Services external link at (905) 895-9222 for further information regarding retrofitting.

In addition, the homeowner must schedule an inspection by contacting the Electrical Safety Authority external link(formerly Ontario Hydro) at 1-877-372-7233.


For additional information please contact the Building Administration Department at 905-727-3123, extension 4390 or 4394.


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