Ottawa basement permit: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
Yes. Finishing a basement needs a building permit. City fee: $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $117.
Last verified 2026-10-07 · City of Ottawa: Basement checklist (PDF), City of Ottawa: Building Code fee schedule (January 1, 2026), City of Ottawa: Adding an apartment- City fee
- $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $117
- Where to apply
- My ServiceOttawa building portal
- Review time
- About 5 business days for a first review of a deck, finished basement or pool enclosure (15 for adding an apartment).
Renovations to an existing house are charged by construction value. A basement apartment needs a permit even with little building work, because the change of use is reviewed.
What an application usually includes
Ottawa’s checklist has the exact list; apply through My ServiceOttawa building portal.
- 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
- Already have a fenced yard? A pool or hot tub still needs its own enclosure permit.
- The finished side of a fence faces the street and the neighbours, and chain-link on homes has to be vinyl- or powder-coated.
- Heritage-designated properties lose the usual permit exemptions, so check before even small jobs.
Design your Ottawa basement to the Building Code.
The design, drawings and code checks work in Ottawa today. Ottawa’s own forms aren’t built in yet, so you’ll fill those in on the City’s portal.