There a number of permits that may be required when developing your basement. The following explains each of the permit types that may be required.

A Development Permit is required if your basement renovation involves:

• Changing the exterior walls or size of your house
• Changing the use (i.e. developing a basement suite with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom)
• Renovating to operate a business in your basement

A Building Permit is required if your basement renovation involves:

• Building a bedroom or bathroom
• Structural work to beams, columns or windows
• A construction value over $5,000 for your basement redevelopment

Construction value includes:

1. Building Components (all materials used in the construction of the building including all building services, electrical, fire alarm and detection systems, and fire protection equipment)
2. Plumbing components (fixtures, drainage system, venting systems, water systems or any part thereof)
3. Electrical components
4. Heating components (systems and equipment for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning)

Construction value does NOT include furnishings, rugs, floor coverings, curtains, etc.

NOTE: Building Permits do not include plumbing, gas, electrical or heating and ventilation work. You need to apply for the appropriate mechanical permit if your basement renovation includes mechanical work.

There are separate mechanical permits for plumbing, gas, electrical and heating and ventilation work.

Plumbing and Gas Permit:

• All basement renovations and developments that include plumbing or gas work require plumbing and/or gas permits before any work starts.
• If the renovation involves installing plumbing fixture drain lines that require the existing concrete to be broken up, the new lines must be inspected before they are covered or buried.
• Plumbing and/or gas piping in the walls or ceiling must also be inspected before they are covered.
• If the renovation only involves replacing existing fixtures, no permit is required.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Permit:

• If a basement renovation involves HVAC duct work, it usually DOES NOT require a HVAC permit. When the house was first built, it normally would have had return air and minimal supply ducts installed in the basement and the renovation or development is only using these existing ducts.
• If extensive new duct work is done in the renovation, it is likely a permit will be required. A supervisor from the area will need to review the conditions to determine if a permit is required.
• If a new furnace or secondary furnace is installed a permit is required.

Electrical Permits:

• After January 1st, 2011 - the City of Edmonton is issuing electrical permits and inspecting electrical work.

Before you build

For more information about basement renovations (not including the development of a secondary suite), please read the
Guide to Developing Your Basement Brochure.

If you are developing a secondary suite in your basement, please read the Secondary Suite Brochure in the Related Documents.

Use the correct application

If your application is for a basement development that does not include the development of a secondary suite, please complete the Residential Construction Application and include all required documentation, as indicated, for the type of construction you are doing.

If your renovation involves building a basement suite or secondary suite (including a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom), you will need to fill out the Secondary Suite for existing Single Family Home Application. You should also review the new building code requirements for suites by doing a search on the Municipal Affairs website for "secondary suites" to get the required information.

If your renovation also involves mechanical work:

Go to Electrical, Plumbing, Gas or Heating and Ventilation Permit topics for additional information about fees and application forms.

If developing a secondary suite - an additional fee for the Sanitary Sewer and Trunk Charge will also apply.

Building Permit: Fee will be the total of your building permit (based on the construction value of your basement renovation) plus a safety code fee, which is charged on all building permits.

2013 Fees:

Construction value includes:

1. Building Components (all materials used in the construction of the building including all building services, electrical, fire alarm and detection systems, and fire protection equipment)
2. Plumbing components (fixtures, drainage system, venting systems, water systems or any part thereof)
3. Electrical components
4. Heating components (systems and equipment for heating, ventilating and air-conditioning)

For more information:

Current Planning Service Centre