St. Catharines · Basement Renovations
Basement Renovations in St. Catharines
Clay soil below the escarpment, and weeping tile still tied to the sanitary sewer in many pre-1970 homes, put water at the top of every St. Catharines basement job. The City’s Flood Alleviation Program covers up to 90% of eligible valve and sump costs, to $5,000, for homes built before 2012.
Basements in St. Catharines
What’s different in St. Catharines
| Permit office | City of St. Catharines Planning and Building Services (official site, opens in a new tab) |
|---|---|
| Flood rebate | FLAP: up to 90% of eligible costs, maximum $5,000, for homes built before 2012. |
| FLAP covers | Backwater valves and moving weeping tile from the sanitary sewer to a sump pump. |
| Suite parking | 0.5 spaces per accessory unit, on top of the house’s own space. |
| Permit portal | build.stcatharines.ca, with fire separation and egress details for a suite. |
| Typical housing stock | 1950s–60s bungalows with block or poured walls, about 1.9 m under the main duct. |
Worth knowing first
Fix the weeping tile before the drywall goes up
A lot of pre-1970 houses in Facer, Fairview and Grantham still drain their foundation into the sanitary line. In a heavy storm, that line can push water back into the basement. In a finished basement, that becomes an insurance claim. So in these houses we disconnect the weeping tile, add a sump and install a backwater valve before framing. The City’s Flood Alleviation Program covers up to 90% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000, for single and semi-detached homes built before 2012. It doesn’t cover finishing or general membranes. We keep the receipts and permit records in order for your claim.
The scope, pricing tiers and 5-step process are the same everywhere we work. See Basement Renovations ›
Frequently asked questions
Basements in St. Catharines: three local questions
Yes, if the ductwork can move. If rerouting the main trunk line and thin flooring get you about 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) under the lowest obstruction, a standard finish works. If not, lowering the floor or underpinning is the only fix. In a Grantham bungalow that can add $30,000 to $60,000 before HST. We measure at the site visit and price both paths.
Not legally. A basement rented as a separate unit is an accessory dwelling unit. It needs a permit from Planning and Building Services covering fire separation, interconnected alarms, egress and the separate entrance. Renting without one leaves you exposed after a fire, an insurance claim or a by-law complaint. Legalising an existing space means opening selected walls, adding what the Code requires and closing up, in 6 to 10 weeks.
Yes, and it saves a teardown later. With Brock University students, hospital staff and young families all renting, many owners finish for a parent first. We frame, wire and separate the space to suite standards from the start. Check parking early: the City asks for 0.5 spaces per accessory unit on top of the house’s own space, which a single-width Facer or Fairview driveway may not fit.
Basements In St. Catharines? Let’s Talk.
Book a free site visit. You'll get a written, itemised quote and a straight answer on permits and timing.
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