Kitchener basement permit: when you need one and what to submit
The short answer
Yes. Finishing a basement needs a building permit. City fee: About $0.37 per sq ft (minimum $95), plus a $250 deposit refunded after the final inspection.
Last verified 2026-10-06 · City of Kitchener: When you need a building permit, City of Kitchener 2025 fee schedule (PDF)- City fee
- About $0.37 per sq ft (minimum $95), plus a $250 deposit refunded after the final inspection
- Where to apply
- City of Kitchener: Apply for a building permit
A basement apartment follows the additional dwelling unit route.
What Kitchener wants to see
- Existing and proposed floor plans with room names and sizes
- Ceiling heights, beams and ducts
- Window details for bedroom escape
- Insulation and energy information, and heating and ventilation where they change
- The application form and the owner or designer declaration
Local quirks
- Kitchener's deck tables are stricter than the Building Code tables in places.
- Fence height is measured from the higher side's finished grade, at every point along the fence.
Get your Kitchener basement application ready to submit.
Pick your project, add your address and see your design and permit answer. Free, no card.