In May of the same year, City Council discussed whether or not to increase fire inspections to crack down on the number of illegal dwellings. Basement apartment, granny flat, accessory unit; no matter what it’s called, there are many different reasons for having a second suite. By Bob Aaron Contributing Columnist. In May of the same year, City Council discussed whether or not to increase fire inspections to crack down on the number of illegal dwellings. Basement apartment, granny flat, accessory unit; no matter what it is called, there are many different reasons for having a second suite. A legal basement reduces your liability in the event of a disaster. Basement apartments must comply with zoning, fire, building and electric codes . Barrie Basement Apartments Rules and Regulations. Achieving a “legal” basement apartment involves five separate issues: local bylaws, fire code, building code, electrical safety requirements, and registration. Be warned though, in order to be legal, basements need to meet the minimum requirements for ventilation, light, sanitation, and exits. Minimum Basement Apartment floor Area – 42 m² (452 ft²) Maximum Basement Apartment floor Area – 30% of the total floor area of the house. Before you can lease out your basement to tenants, it must pass certain legal specifications to be deemed habitable, including fire and electrical safety, zoning by-laws, building codes and other municipal requirements. What a basement apartment needs: The requirements for a basement apartment will depend on your location. Because basements often contain mold, poor air quality and other unsafe features, you must take care to design the basement to make it desirable for tenants. Whether it’s for extra income, providing a place for a family member, increasing the value of the house or having a tenant for company, a second suite can be beneficial. Whether it’s for extra income, providing a place for a family member, or increasing the value of the house, a second suite can be beneficial. The unit may be in any part of the house, including the basement.
And the apartment needs the approval of the Department of Buildings. So what if I told you that I have absolutely, positively, zero idea what makes a basement apartment legal ... 2- Zoning/city requirements – many basement apartments are in place when you buy the house, so you would have to get a plan made and submit it to the city, which will probably cost more than all the work required above. Ontario Landlords Association Members Loved Bob’s Column…but hundreds of emails sent in asked for more advice and more clarification.
“ A registration system also helps the City identify the …