Basement Renovations in Richmond Hill
From established streets around Mill Pond and Richvale to Bayview Hill, Rouge Woods and Oak Ridges, we finish Richmond Hill basements and build additional residential units under the City's new zoning by-law.
A New Zoning By-law Sets the Rules
Richmond Hill's basement rules changed in 2026. On July 2, the Ontario Land Tribunal partly approved the City's Comprehensive Zoning By-law 93-25, and it is now in force for most of the city. It allows up to three additional residential units on a lot, to a maximum of four homes in total, and it is specific about doors: a third or fourth unit may have its entrance on the front of the house if that entrance is below grade or faces sideways to the street, and no unit can be reached only through the garage.
Parking is lighter than many owners expect. The by-law counts the main house's spaces in the total, so a lot with one or two extra units needs between zero and two spaces altogether, depending on which parking area it sits in, and tandem spaces on a driveway count. A path at least 1 m wide must lead from the street or lane to the unit's entrance.
Most of Richmond Hill's housing is young: about two-thirds of homes were built between 1981 and 2010, according to the 2021 census, and only about 15% are older. Basements in homes of that age usually need less repair, so finishing is mostly about layout, separation and exits. The Oak Ridges Moraine is the exception to the three-unit rule: on lands zoned ORMCO or ORMH, only one additional unit is allowed.
- Licensed & insured contractors
- Transparent, itemized pricing
- Permits & approvals handled for you
- On-time delivery, every project
Richmond Hill Basement Renovations
The basement projects we build most often in Richmond Hill.
Additional Residential Units
Self-contained basement units with a kitchen, bathroom and separate entrance, designed to By-law 93-25.
Below-Grade Entrances
Walkouts and stairwells with a floor drain to the storm sewer or a sump pit, as the City requires.
Family Basements
Open recreation rooms, media rooms and home gyms for 1980s to 2000s homes.
Guest and In-Law Suites
A private bedroom and bathroom for family, with the option to separate it into a unit later.
Basement Bathrooms
New bathrooms planned around an existing rough-in, or a pump where the drain sits too high.
Moraine Properties
Basement projects in Oak Ridges planned around the one-unit limit on moraine-zoned lots.
What Shapes a Richmond Hill Basement
These are the local rules and conditions we design around.
Up to Three Extra Units
By-law 93-25 allows three additional residential units per lot and four dwelling units in total.
Entrance Placement
A third or fourth unit may have a front entrance if it is below grade or perpendicular to the street. No unit may rely on the garage for access.
Parking Areas
Total spaces for a lot with one or two extra units range from zero to two, including the main house, depending on the parking area.
Oak Ridges Moraine Limits
On ORMCO and ORMH lands only one additional unit is permitted, and none in a Greenway System zone.
Who Inspects
The Building Department inspects units built under permit. Fire inspects only units that existed before July 14, 1994.
Backwater Valve Subsidy
The City contributes up to $1,500 toward a backwater valve, first come, first served, with a permit and disconnected downspouts.
Richmond Hill Basement Pricing
In Richmond Hill, our basement finishing starts at $55 per square foot and an additional residential unit at $80 per square foot. A standard finish most often falls in the $50,000 to $90,000 range. A legal basement unit usually comes to $80,000 to $175,000 because it adds a second kitchen, a rated fire separation, interconnected smoke alarms, compliant exits and the permit and inspection work.
City fees are a small part of the total. The 2026 rate for finishing a basement is $6.56 per square metre, an alteration that creates an additional unit is $10.40 per square metre, and the minimum residential permit is $210.12. The bigger cost drivers are a new below-grade entrance and any bathroom that needs a pump. Every quote we give is fixed and itemized after we have seen the basement.
Richmond Hill Neighbourhoods We Serve
We finish basements across Richmond Hill, from Langstaff up to Oak Ridges.
Our Simple 5-Step Process
How a Richmond Hill basement comes together, step by step.
Reach Out
Call us or fill out our quick form to tell us about your basement.
Free Consultation
We visit your home, measure the space and talk through layout, finishes, budget and timeline.
Detailed Estimate
You receive a transparent, itemized estimate within 2 to 3 business days.
Review & Refine
We walk through the proposal together until you are fully confident.
Sign & Start
We lock in your start date and handle scheduling, permits and coordination.
Recent Basement Renovations
Some of the basements we have finished for homeowners around the GTA.
