Project Overview

Many homeowners are renovating their basements for future rental use. Using one of our recently completed projects as an example, here’s a concise guide to legal basement rental renovations in Aurora. What Is a Legal Rental Basement? A legal rental basement is designed for tenants and includes a separate kitchen, private entrance, and independent living space. From the city’s perspective, once a stove or cooktop is installed, the basement is generally classified as a rental unit—regardless of whether the owner intends to rent it out. Fire Safety Basement ceilings, furnace rooms, and stairways must be separated with 5/8” fire-rated drywall A smoke detector is required in the furnace room Smoke alarms on all levels must be interconnected Separate Entrance A private entrance is mandatory. Below-grade entrances require proper drainage, typically using a sump pump (many cities offer sump pump credits). A compliant entrance includes stairs, handrails, drainage, motion lighting, and insulation. Fire-Rated Doors & Soundproofing Fire-rated doors are required for the furnace room, basement entrance, and interior connecting doors Basement ceilings must include sound insulation to reduce noise transfer between floors Building Permit Any legal rental basement or basement kitchen with a cooktop must apply for a building permit. Most GTA cities require architectural drawings; some cities (e.g. Brampton) may require plumbing drawings. Window Requirements Bedrooms: minimum 2.5% window-to-floor area Living areas: minimum 5% window-to-floor area Always check city-specific regulations before construction.