Basement Renovation · Cambridge
Basement Apartments in Cambridge
Legal basement apartments and additional residential units in Cambridge — built to the Ontario Building Code, permitted through the City, and ready to rent.
Cambridge has strong rental demand — Conestoga College's Cambridge campus, the Toyota plant and the industrial employers along Highway 401 and Franklin Boulevard all bring tenants who want a self-contained unit. Ontario now allows additional residential units as of right in most low-rise residential zones, and the City of Cambridge processes them through a building permit. What that permit requires is where most do-it-yourself basement apartments fall down.
We build the whole unit — separate entrance, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom with a legal egress window, fire separation and the alarms — and we handle the permit and inspections from start to finish.
What a legal unit in Cambridge needs
- Minimum ceiling height throughout the living space (older Preston and Galt basements are the ones that struggle here)
- A bedroom egress window or a second exit, sized to code, with a window well that a person can climb out of
- Fire separation between the units — drywall assemblies, fire-rated doors, sealed penetrations — and interconnected smoke and CO alarms in both units
- Its own kitchen and full bathroom, with plumbing sized for the added fixtures
- Adequate ventilation and heating; sometimes a separate HRV or ductwork changes
- Electrical capacity — many Preston homes on a 100-amp panel need an upgrade or a careful load calculation
- Parking that meets the City's requirement
Which Cambridge homes suit a basement apartment
Bungalows and raised bungalows are the easiest — the side or rear entrance is often already there, and a raised bungalow gives full-size windows. The 1990s two-storeys in Hespeler and Clemens Mill work well because of ceiling height and a poured foundation. Century homes in Galt are the hardest: headroom and rubble foundations usually rule them out unless the floor is lowered, which is a bigger project we can quote separately.
Water first, always
A tenant's furniture in a basement that takes on water is a bigger problem than your own. Near the Grand or Speed we insist on a moisture assessment and, if needed, waterproofing before the unit is built.
Frequently asked questions
Is a basement apartment legal in Cambridge?
Yes, as an additional residential unit in most residential zones, provided it's built to the Ontario Building Code and permitted by the City of Cambridge. An unpermitted unit is where landlords get into trouble with insurance and the fire department.
What if my ceiling is too low?
Existing basements get some allowance under the Building Code's rules for existing buildings, but there's a floor to it. If you're under it, the options are lowering the slab (expensive) or using the basement as a non-rental living space.
Can you also do the separate entrance?
Yes. A new side entrance with a proper stairwell and drainage is part of most of our Cambridge suite builds.
Serving Cambridge and surrounding areas. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote specific to your project.