The most efficient path to a legal basement apartment. We design, permit and build side entrances that satisfy the Ontario Building Code and your local zoning bylaws.
A basement side entrance — a code-compliant exterior entry installed on the side of your home leading directly into the basement — is often the single highest-ROI addition you can make to a GTA property. It unlocks legal secondary-suite registration, dramatically improves the rentability of your basement, and resolves the egress requirements that come with finished basement bedrooms. Our team designs, permits and builds side entrances for homes across the Greater Toronto Area.
Not every property is suited to a full walkout. Lots without sufficient grade change, side yards that are narrower than a back yard, and homes built on slab-edge foundations frequently benefit more from a side entrance than a rear walkout. The side entry sits along the foundation wall closest to the basement living area, with a compact stair well leading down to a code-rated door. For most GTA detached and semi-detached homes, this is the most practical, code-friendly route to a separate basement entry.
Cities across the GTA — Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Vaughan, Markham, Oakville and beyond — allow registered second units in single-detached and semi-detached homes, with municipality-specific zoning rules. A legal secondary suite generally requires a separate entrance, code-compliant exit, fire separation between units, and properly sized windows. We design the side entrance to satisfy both OBC and the local zoning bylaw, so the suite can be registered without rework.
Side yards in GTA neighbourhoods are often narrow — sometimes just 4–6 feet between the house and the property line. We use compact excavators and hand-finishing where machinery can't reach. Existing services (gas lines, water service, hydro grounding) are located and protected before excavation begins. We work with your neighbours and the municipality where shoring crosses into a setback area.
Once excavation reaches footing depth, we install temporary support above the planned opening and cut the foundation wall using a track-mounted concrete saw. A new structural lintel — concrete-filled steel or reinforced concrete — is installed to carry the load above the door. Engineered drawings are submitted with the permit; an engineer's site review is provided where the municipality requires it.
The new opening creates a permanent weak point in the foundation if it isn't waterproofed correctly. We install dimpled drainage membrane against the foundation, apply rubberized waterproofing across all new and cut surfaces, and add new weeping tile tied into the existing drainage system. The stair well slab slopes to a drain, with a backwater valve and sump where the municipality requires.
Stairs are formed and poured in concrete, with proper riser height, run depth and non-slip finish per OBC. A 4'×4' landing in front of the door gives safe footing during entry. Galvanized handrails and guards finish the well. Insulated steel or fibreglass doors are installed with proper threshold details to keep weather out year-round.
Building permits for side entrances require site plans, foundation cut details, structural drawings and zoning sign-off. We compile and submit the complete package, then schedule each required inspection — typically excavation/footing, structural framing, and final. Once construction is complete, we hand over the permit documentation you need for secondary suite registration.
Every project is built to current OBC standards. We handle the permit application, prepare the structural and site drawings, coordinate engineer's stamps where required, and book each municipal inspection on your behalf. Final approval documentation is yours to keep on file.
A separate code-compliant exterior entry is a prerequisite for a registered second unit in most GTA municipalities.
A registered basement suite generates ongoing monthly income — typical GTA returns recover the investment in 3–6 years.
Detached and semi-detached homes with side-entrance basements consistently outsell comparable closed-basement homes.
Even without a tenant, the separate entrance makes the basement feel like a real living level, not a storage zone.
Code-compliant emergency exit for basement sleeping rooms.
Built-in flexibility for in-law suites, adult-child suites, work-from-home offices.
We're a hands-on contractor, not a sales operation. Our crews are the people who bid your job and run your job — that's how quality stays consistent across every postal code we serve.
Clay soils, high water tables and freeze-thaw cycles drive every design decision.
WSIB-covered crews and full liability coverage on every job.
Complete permit, drawing and inspection coordination.
Written timelines we stand behind.
Line-item estimates, no surprise change orders.
Structural and waterproofing work backed in writing.
The same milestones on every project, so you always know where we are in your build.
City-specific information, building trends and contact for each area we serve.
Tell us about your home and your goals. We'll schedule a site visit, walk through the scope, and have a written quote in your hands within a few days.
