Permitted, inspected, registered basement apartments that pass the first time.
- Feasibility & design
- 1 — 2 weeks
- Permit review
- 4 — 12 weeks
- Construction
- 8 — 14 weeks
- Inspections & registration
- 2 — 4 weeks
Legal Basement in Markham — the short answer
A legal basement apartment — formally an Additional Residential Unit or second suite — is a self-contained dwelling in a basement that has been built to the Ontario Building Code, approved under a building permit, inspected, and where required registered with the municipality. Under Bill 23 (More Homes Built Faster Act), most detached, semi-detached and townhouse properties in Ontario may add one ARU as-of-right. In Markham, that work is permitted and inspected through City of Markham Building Standards. Markham permits second suites subject to Building Standards approval and registration. Heritage Conservation District properties in Unionville and Markham Village require additional review for any exterior change, including a new basement entrance or a rear deck.
Whether a Markham basement can become a legal suite is decided by the house, not by the brochure. Cornell, Berczy Village, Wismer and Greensborough are 1998 onward — tall basements, poured foundations, modern services and predictable framing. Unionville and Markham Village hold protected heritage properties where exterior alterations are tightly controlled. Milliken and Middlefield are 1970s and 80s stock.
Markham's newer subdivisions have narrow side yards despite large homes, so we confirm setback clearance for a separate entrance before design rather than discovering it at plan review.
Permits — City of Markham Building Standards
Markham permits second suites subject to Building Standards approval and registration. Heritage Conservation District properties in Unionville and Markham Village require additional review for any exterior change, including a new basement entrance or a rear deck.
Legal Basement pricing
- Legalise an existing finished basement$25,000 — $62,000
- Unfinished basement — standard unit$85,000 — $140,000
- Two-bedroom suite with walk-up$140,000 — $220,000
- Complex build$220,000 — $300,000+
- Per square foot — legal suite$90 — $150 / sq ft
Underpinning to gain ceiling height is the single largest cost variable and can add $80,000 or more. We measure your existing height at the lowest duct before quoting so that number is never a surprise.
Neighbourhoods
Unionville · Cornell · Berczy Village · Markham Village · Wismer · Greensborough · Angus Glen · Milliken Mills · Cathedraltown · Box Grove
These apply to every legal basement project in Markham. City of Markham Building Standards is the final authority and we confirm each item against your specific property before quoting.
Code feasibility assessment
Before you spend a dollar we measure ceiling height, window openings, joist depth, panel capacity and lot conditions against the Ontario Building Code and your zoning bylaw, and tell you honestly whether the basement qualifies.
Permit drawings & submission
Floor plans, fire separation details, egress and ventilation schedules prepared and submitted to your municipality, with responses to plan-review comments handled by us.
Separate entrance construction
Side or rear entrances, excavated walk-ups, retaining walls, drainage and a compliant landing and stair. Toronto in particular restricts new front-façade entrances that make a house read as a duplex.
Egress windows & window wells
Cutting and enlarging foundation openings, structural lintels, window wells with proper drainage, and a clear opening that meets the code minimum for escape.
Fire separation & alarms
Rated ceiling and wall assemblies between units, self-closing doors, firestopping at every penetration, and interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide alarms across both dwellings.
Full unit build & registration
Kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms, separate laundry, sound insulation, dedicated HVAC and ventilation, ESA inspection, final building inspection and municipal two-unit registration.
Not seeing your question? Call or text (647) 928-3544 — we answer same day, usually within 2 hours.
City of Markham Building Standards handles permits for Markham. Markham permits second suites subject to Building Standards approval and registration. Heritage Conservation District properties in Unionville and Markham Village require additional review for any exterior change, including a new basement entrance or a rear deck. We prepare the drawings, submit the application, respond to plan-review comments and call every inspection through to a closed permit, so you are not standing in a queue at City Hall.
We come to you in Markham, measure on site, and hand back a written line-by-line quote at no cost. Same day, usually within 2 hours response.
Same day, usually within 2 hours· Serving the GTA, Hamilton, Guelph & Kitchener