SERVING FORT ERIE · LEGAL BASEMENTS & HOME ADDITIONS

Legal Basements & Home Additions
in Fort Erie — Built With Clarity.

Fixed price. Permits handled. No surprises. Fort Erie's 2025 zoning update now allows up to two Accessory Dwelling Units per home — we'll show you exactly what your property qualifies for.

BOOK YOUR FREE ASSESSMENT

Free assessment · No obligation · Fort Erie & surrounding area

THE PROBLEM

An unfinished basement in Fort Erie — or a house you've outgrown — is wasted potential.

Most Fort Erie homeowners delay because the process seems complicated — zoning rules, permit drawings, contractors who disappear after the deposit. But every month you wait is rental income or living space you're not getting, and Fort Erie's housekeeping zoning amendment now permits more than most homeowners realize.

The process is only complicated when nobody manages it properly.

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Zoning & Permits

Fort Erie's By-law 69-2025 governs exactly what's allowed. We handle the application so you don't have to decode it.

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Surprise Costs

Fixed price, in writing, before work begins. No change orders mid-build.

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Unreliable Contractors

10 years of operations across the GTA & Niagara Region, with a 100% permit approval rate.

FORT ERIE PERMIT PROCESS

What it actually takes to legalize a basement in Fort Erie

In July 2025, Fort Erie Council passed By-law 69-2025, a housekeeping amendment that rewrote Subsection 6.43 of the Town's Comprehensive Zoning By-law (129-90) governing Accessory Dwelling Units. In a Residential Zone within the Urban Boundary with full municipal water and sanitary sewer service, a single detached, semi-detached, or rowhouse/townhouse dwelling may now add up to two Accessory Dwelling Units in addition to the main unit — or one Accessory Dwelling Unit plus one Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit in a backyard structure. We handle every step of it.

✓Pre-application zoning check with Fort Erie Planning and Development Services (905-871-1600 ext. 2521) — confirmed before you commit to anything
✓Code-compliant drawings prepared and submitted to the Building Division at building@forterie.ca
✓Plan review against By-law 69-2025, Subsection 6.43 — maximum floor area 40% of the main dwelling or 100 sq m, whichever is less
✓One on-site parking space confirmed per Accessory Dwelling Unit — tandem parking permitted to a depth of two spaces
✓Required inspections booked and attended at every construction stage — final sign-off and your space is officially legal

CHECK YOUR PROPERTY'S ELIGIBILITY

HOW IT WORKS

From assessment to move-in ready

STEP ONE

Free Assessment

We walk your Fort Erie property, review zoning under By-law 69-2025, and tell you exactly what's possible — basement ADU, detached ADU, or addition.

Outcome: a clear scope and fixed price, in writing.

STEP TWO

Design & Permits

We prepare code-compliant drawings and submit your application to the Town of Fort Erie Building Division. We manage every step of the review.

Outcome: a permitted, legal project — not a guess.

STEP THREE

Build

Fixed price, weekly updates, and inspections scheduled at every stage required by the Town.

Outcome: a rent-ready suite or finished addition.

START YOUR FORT ERIE PROJECT

REAL RESULTS

Niagara Region homeowners, real outcomes

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PARAHOMES handled the permit process from start to finish. We didn't have to chase anyone — they came to us with updates.

3-bedroom legal suite · 7 weeks · $1,600/month rental income

Jennifer R.

Homeowner · St. Catharines

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Fixed price meant no surprises. The basement is now a legal suite and the rent covers a real chunk of our mortgage.

Basement legalization · completed May 2023 · $1,600/month rental income

Tiffany C.

Homeowner · Niagara Falls

FAQ

Fort Erie legal basement & addition questions

Under By-law 69-2025, a single detached, semi-detached, or rowhouse/townhouse home in the Urban Boundary with full municipal water and sewer service can add up to two Accessory Dwelling Units in addition to the main dwelling. Alternatively, you can add one Accessory Dwelling Unit plus one Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (a separate backyard structure). We'll confirm which path fits your lot at your free assessment.

Under Subsection 6.43, each Accessory Dwelling Unit is capped at 40% of the main dwelling's total floor area or 100 sq m, whichever is less. If the unit is located in the basement, it may occupy the entire basement area.

Yes — one on-site parking space is required per Accessory Dwelling Unit. Tandem parking (stacked spaces) is permitted to a maximum depth of two spaces.

Fort Erie doesn't publish a fixed review timeline — it depends on the completeness of your submission and current Building Division workload. We'll give you a realistic estimate based on your specific property at your free assessment.

Yes — Home Additions follow the same fixed-price, permits-handled process. We'll walk through both options at your free assessment if you're not sure which fits your property.

Know what your project will cost — before construction begins.

Book a Free Assessment. Leave with a clear scope, a realistic budget, and a timeline — not a vague quote.