Barrie Legal Basement Apartment

Our client in Barrie wanted to convert her unused 900 square foot walkout basement into extra living space for her son and his children. The basement includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a laundry room. We filed for permits from the City of Barrie for an Additional Residential Unit (ARU) permit, or as most people call it, a “legal basement.” This is a basement apartment that is self-contained with its own bathroom and kitchen and can be rented out legally. Most importantly, these units are built with fire separation and fire safety in mind, so we must use fire-resistant materials and ensure we have legal means of egress from the unit. Although it took approximately four months to receive permits, we finally started construction in late January during a snowstorm. We completed everything and passed all final inspections in April, 2025 at a cost of approximately $87,000.