Etobicoke · Basement Renovations
Basement Renovations in Etobicoke
Pre-war foundations under Kingsway and Humber Valley Village homes are brick, clay tile or stone, with ceilings below 2.0 m under the beams. Alderwood bungalows sit on concrete block with side doors at grade, the classic Etobicoke second-unit house. Toronto runs no second-unit registration, so a Toronto Building permit and final inspection are its legal record.
Basements in Etobicoke
What’s different in Etobicoke
| Permit office | Toronto Building, Etobicoke York District (City of Toronto) (official site, opens in a new tab) |
|---|---|
| Second units | Up to 4 units per house. No City registration, so the permit and final inspection are the legal record. |
| Parking | No space required for a new unit since December 2021. Front-yard paving is still limited by By-law 569-2013. |
| Flood subsidy | Up to 80% of cost: $1,600 per backwater valve (two max) and $2,250 per sump pump, for work since 12 Nov 2025. |
| Subsidy conditions | Valve installed under permit, downspouts disconnected, application within two years. |
| Lakeshore groundwater | Spring water tables near the slab in Long Branch, New Toronto and parts of Mimico. |
Worth knowing first
Near the lake, plan the drainage before the finish
In Long Branch, New Toronto and parts of Mimico, the water table can sit close to the basement floor in spring. So the drainage is the main job, and the finish comes second. We camera the existing weeping tile first. Then a dimpled membrane goes on the walls, draining to an interior perimeter pipe and a sealed sump with battery backup and an alarm. Below 300 mm (12 in) we avoid carpet and paper-faced drywall. Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy pays up to $2,250 for the sump pump and $300 for the battery backup, so we itemize both on the invoice.
The scope, pricing tiers and 5-step process are the same everywhere we work. See Basement Renovations ›
Frequently asked questions
Basements in Etobicoke: three local questions
Yes, with an engineer’s design and a Toronto Building permit. Bench footings leave a concrete step around the perimeter and cost less, but shrink the floor. Underpinning digs below each wall in short sections and keeps the full floor area, at a higher price. On pre-war brick or stone foundations, the engineer also checks wall condition and drain depth to the street. Lowering adds three to five weeks to the schedule.
Yes, if you meet the program rules. The City pays up to 80% of the invoice, to a maximum of $1,600 per valve and two valves, for work done on or after November 12, 2025. The valve needs a permit and a passed inspection, and your downspouts must be disconnected. The City also requires the installer and subcontractors to hold a valid City of Toronto business licence, so confirm that on any quote.
No. Toronto removed most minimum parking requirements in December 2021, so a new second unit doesn’t need a space. Don’t pave the front yard to make one, though. Zoning By-law 569-2013 still limits driveway widths and requires landscaped open space at the front, and a wider curb cut needs City approval. Realistic options are the existing driveway, a rear garage or a street parking permit where the street qualifies.
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