Finishing a Basement

Designer requirements

Drawings that are prepared by a qualified designer (as defined in the Ontario Building Code) must include:

• The qualified designer’s name
• The qualified designer’s registration number
• The qualification identification number of the qualified designer (Building Code Identification Number: BCIN)
• The qualified designer's signature
• The stamp or statement that the qualified designer has reviewed and taken responsibility for the design activities

Note: Property owners may prepare and submit drawings that follow the requirements outlined in the “drawing requirements” section below.

Drawing requirements

A PDF copy of the construction drawing must be provided.

All drawings are to be designed to a minimum scale of 1:75 or 3/16ths equals one foot. Drawings are to be fully dimensioned, signed and dated, and include information such as:

• Plan view construction drawings indicating:
  • Window and door sizes
  • Room names (proposed use)
  • Bathroom layouts
  • Location of new or relocated plumbing fixtures
  • Location of stairs, furnace, etc.
  • New interior wall construction and exterior wall construction including insulation values
  • New beam sizes and supports
  • Ceiling heights

Additional requirements

• Commonly Used Applicable Laws & Building Permits (PDF)
• Building Permit Applicant Authorization Form (PDF)
• Schedule 1 Designer Information Form (PDF)
• Residential Plumbing Data Form (PDF)
• Energy Efficiency Design Summary Form (SB-12 Compliance Requirements) (PDF)
• Two copies of the mechanical layout and heat loss or gain calculations
• Air leakage calculation and summary including F-280 forms, mechanical ventilation design summary
• Sewage System Installer Information Form (PDF) (if applicable) and septic tank design (if applicable)
• Any other documents that pertain to the project