Hamilton basement permit: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
Yes. Finishing or partly finishing a basement needs a building permit. City fee: $4.06 per m², minimum $291.
Last verified 2026-10-07 · City of Hamilton: Building permit application requirements, City of Hamilton: Building permit fees, City of Hamilton: Additional dwelling units- City fee
- $4.06 per m², minimum $291
- Where to apply
- City of Hamilton customer portal (my.hamilton.ca)
A basement apartment is a flat $515 permit and needs its own municipal address.
What an application usually includes
Hamilton’s checklist has the exact list; apply through City of Hamilton customer portal (my.hamilton.ca).
- Existing and proposed floor plans with room names and sizes
- Ceiling heights, beams and ducts
- Window details for bedroom escape
- Insulation and energy information, and heating and ventilation where they change
- The application form and the owner or designer declaration
Local quirks
- Hamilton wants permits for jobs many cities skip: replacing deck or stair railings, damp-proofing foundation walls, sump pumps, and new drywall and insulation.
- The part of a pool fence between the house and the pool has to be see-through, so the pool can be seen from the house.
- Fake permit-fee invoices have been going around. Real City messages come only from @hamilton.ca addresses.
Design your Hamilton basement to the Building Code.
The design, drawings and code checks work in Hamilton today. Hamilton’s own forms aren’t built in yet, so you’ll fill those in on the City’s portal.