Question 1

Who should I hire first for a basement finishing project?

Accepted Answer

For a basement finishing project in Ottawa, hire a general contractor first who can coordinate all trades and pull the necessary City of Ottawa permits.

A licensed general contractor will handle the permit application process through ottawa.ca/building, which typically takes 15-25 business days for basement renovations and costs $200-500+ depending on scope. They'll also coordinate the required inspections throughout the project.

Why Start with a General Contractor

Your general contractor wi

Question 2

Do basement bedrooms need egress windows in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, basement bedrooms in Ottawa absolutely require egress windows to meet Ontario Building Code requirements and obtain proper permits from the City of Ottawa.

Under the Ontario Building Code (OBC), any room used for sleeping must have a window or door that opens directly to the outside and meets specific size requirements for emergency escape. This applies to all basement bedrooms in Ottawa, whether you're finishing an existing basement or creating a secondary dwelling unit.

Ottawa's Egress

Question 3

Do I need parking for a basement apartment in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you typically need to provide parking for a basement apartment in Ottawa, but the requirements vary by zoning and location.

The City of Ottawa's Zoning By-law generally requires one parking space per dwelling unit, which includes secondary dwelling units like basement apartments. However, the specific requirements depend on your property's zoning designation and location within the city.

Ottawa Parking Requirements for Secondary Units

In most residential zones (R1, R2, R3), you'll need

Basement Renovations

Who should I hire first for a basement finishing project?

Do basement bedrooms need egress windows in Ottawa?

Do I need parking for a basement apartment in Ottawa?