SERVING BURLINGTON · LEGAL BASEMENTS & HOME ADDITIONS

Legal Basements & Home Additions
in Burlington — Built With Clarity.

Fixed price. Permits handled. No surprises. Burlington's new zoning by-law now allows up to 4 residential units per lot, as-of-right — we'll show you exactly what your property qualifies for.

BOOK YOUR FREE ASSESSMENT

Free assessment · No obligation · Burlington & surrounding area

THE PROBLEM

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

Most Burlington homeowners delay because the process seems complicated — permits, zoning, contractors who disappear after the deposit. But every month you wait is rental income or living space you're not getting.

The process is only complicated when nobody manages it properly. We manage everything — for both basements and additions.

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Permit Confusion

Most homeowners don't know what permits are required, what drawings are needed, or how to submit to the City of Burlington.

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Zoning & Code Gaps

Egress, fire separation, ceiling height, parking — Burlington passed a brand-new Residential Zoning By-law (09-2026) in March 2026, and the rules differ by property type.

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Unpermitted Work Risk

Work done without permits creates liability at resale and can force expensive corrections when buyers or inspectors find it.

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Lost Time, Lost Money

Every month of delay is rental income you're not collecting, or space your family still doesn't have.

WHY PARAHOMES IN BURLINGTON

We handle everything — from City Hall to final inspection.

Burlington's new Residential Zoning By-law (By-law 09-2026, in force since March 2, 2026) permits up to 4 residential units per urban lot as-of-right — your principal dwelling plus up to 3 Additional Residential Units. Right now, the City is also waiving ARU zoning and building permit fees, and offering forgivable loans of up to $95,000 through its ARU Incentive Program. We work directly with Burlington's Building and Planning departments to confirm what your property qualifies for, prepare permit drawings, and manage every inspection.

Every project — basement or addition — is fixed price, fully permitted, and delivered on the timeline agreed at scope sign-off.

✓Zoning verification handled before you commit to anything
✓Full permit application and City submissions handled
✓Egress, fire separation, and code compliance included
✓100% first-submission permit approval rate
✓2-year workmanship warranty — backed in writing

Before — unfinished basement in Burlington

After — finished legal basement suite in Burlington

100%

Permit approval, first submission

4 Units

Permitted per lot, as-of-right in Burlington

$95K

Max ARU incentive loan available in Burlington

2 Years

Workmanship warranty, in writing

BURLINGTON PERMIT PROCESS

Exactly how we get your legal basement suite or home addition approved in Burlington.

Burlington's Building and Community Planning departments are based at City Hall, 426 Brant Street, and can be reached at 905-335-7777 — but you won't need to call them. We do.

Under the City's current Additional Residential Unit policy — aligned with Residential Zoning By-law 09-2026, in force since March 2, 2026 — ARU zoning and building permit fees are being waived, and applications are tracked through the City's myFiles Portal from submission to final occupancy.

✓Step 1 — Confirm what you can build. We use the City's ARU Look-up Tool and interactive zoning map to confirm exactly what's permitted on your property before you commit to anything.
✓Step 2 — Pre-Building Approval Application. We prepare and submit your application package to the City's zoning team. Staff log and review every complete submission within 6 business days.
✓Step 3 — Zoning Clearance. The City reviews zoning, grading, and tree requirements — interior-only projects: about 2 weeks; projects with exterior work: about 3–4 weeks. We track everything through the City's myFiles Portal.
✓Step 4 — Building Permit application. We submit your Building Permit Application directly to the City's Building Division. Applications are screened within 2 business days and permits issued within 10 business days once your submission is complete.
✓Step 5 — Construction & inspections. We complete all work and book every required inspection milestone with the City — scheduled within 2 business days of each request.
✓Step 6 — Final occupancy. Once your project meets all requirements, the City issues your Occupancy Permit — your space is officially legal and ready to use.

CHECK YOUR PROPERTY'S ELIGIBILITY IN BURLINGTON

HOW IT WORKS IN BURLINGTON

Three steps from assessment to finished space.

Every project — basement legalization or home addition — follows the same structured process. No surprises. No confusion.

STEP ONE

Assess

We inspect your property, review Burlington zoning and ARU eligibility under By-law 09-2026, and give you a realistic cost range and timeline. No commitment required.

You leave knowing exactly what your property qualifies for.

STEP TWO

Plan

We lock the full scope in writing, prepare permit drawings, and submit to the City. Fixed price agreed before any work begins.

Permits submitted. Price locked. Nothing starts until you've approved every detail.

STEP THREE

Build

We complete all construction, manage every inspection, and deliver a finished, city-certified space — on time and on budget.

A legal, inspected result. Ready to use.

"Everything was clearly defined from day one. No surprises, no scope changes."

START YOUR BURLINGTON PROJECT

PROVEN RESULTS ACROSS THE REGION

Clients who renovated without the chaos.

Real basement conversions, start to finish, from our GTA & Niagara portfolio.

Everything was clearly defined from day one. No surprises, no scope changes.

✓ 3-bedroom legal suite · 7 weeks · Now renting at $1,600/month

Jennifer R.

Homeowner · St. Catharines

My basement went from unused space to $1,600 a month in rent. My friends came over, saw it, and wouldn't stop asking who did it. Now they're calling PARAHOMES too.

✓ Basement legalized · $1,600/mo rental · Completed May 2023

Tiffany C.

Homeowner · Niagara Falls

VIEW ALL SUCCESS STORIES →

COMMON QUESTIONS

Burlington Questions

Everything you need to know before your free assessment.

Most homes qualify, but it depends on ceiling height, egress, fire separation, and your property's zoning. Burlington's current ARU policy — aligned with Residential Zoning By-law 09-2026 — permits up to 4 residential units per lot as-of-right. We confirm exactly what your property qualifies for at your free assessment.

We do — start to finish. We submit directly to Burlington's Community Planning and Building Divisions and manage every inspection through the City's myFiles Portal, so you don't deal with the City at all.

Burlington's own published process runs about 2 weeks for zoning clearance on interior-only projects (3–4 weeks with exterior work), plus up to 10 business days for the building permit once your application is complete. Construction time depends on project scope — we'll give you a specific schedule at your free assessment.

Not always. Under current City policy, your first Additional Residential Unit requires zero extra parking spaces — a second or third ARU on the same lot requires 1 space each. We'll confirm exactly what applies to 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.