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Developing or renovating your basement

The basement development guidelinE (PDF) outlines what you need in order to apply for your permit, as well as the basic HVAC, electrical, plumbing and gas information.

Inspections are required prior to insulation or drywall being hung, once all rough-ins including framing, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and gas are complete. Electrical final inspections are mandatory. Depending on the scope of work and at the discretion of the Inspector, final inspections may also be required for building, plumbing and gas.

Basement development checklist

The following must be clearly indicated on your floor plans or your application may not be accepted for processing:

Door Sizes - Bathroom doors 30” minimum, Utility Room door 32”minimum
Smoke Alarm Location - Must be located in every bedroom and in the hallway serving the bedroom.
Uses of rooms - Bedroom, Utility Room, Bathroom etc.
Total Square footage of developed space
Window Sizes and Type - Indicate for bedrooms, playrooms office rooms etc. (Casement, Slider, Awning, Hopper)
Electrical Outlets, Lighting locations and switches
Electrical Panel Location
Bathroom Fan - Each bathroom must have a fan rated not less than 50cfm (25 L/S). Bathrooms must have GFI receptacles when located within 1 meter of a sink .
Structural changes - Any structural changes must be clearly indicated on your plans e.g. Adding or changing windows, removing or relocating load bearing walls or columns.

Special considerations for bedrooms:

Open area of bedroom window - Indicate the openable area of your bedroom window
Carbon Monoxide Alarm - A C/O alarm is required on each floor level with a bedroom within 5m (16’ 5”) of the bedroom door.
Window Wells - All window wells serving bedrooms must have a minimum depth of 760mm (30”). *Most existing window wells will not meet this requirement and modifications will be required.

Who will be doing the work?

Hiring a contractor

Research contractors to protect yourself from renovation scams. Visit alberta.ca/hiring-contractor for helpful tips.
The names of all contractors who will be working on your project must be listed in the permit application.
Contractors must have a current business licence with the City of Airdrie.
Contractors performing HVAC, plumbing, gas and electrical work must hold a valid trade qualification certificate to perform work in these trades.

Homeowner-led renovations

If you are a homeowner wishing to perform HVAC, electrical, plumbing or gas work, a Homeowners Declaration (PDF) will be required with your permit application.

Developing a secondary suite in your basement?

If you intend to develop your basement as a secondary suite there are additional development permits and other requirements to consider. Learn more about how a secondary suite differs from a regular basement development project.

Learn more about SECONDARY SUITES

Apply for your permit

Your permit application will be submitted to and reviewed by our Building Inspections department.

Starting January 2026, a fee of $100 will be applied to each homeowner-led trade permit (electrical, plumbing, and gas). This fee supports the resources needed to keep your project progressing smoothly, and aligns with fees in neighbouring municipalities and industry standards. For a full list of permit costs, please refer to the User Fees Bylaw (PDF). Hired contractors are exempt from this fee.

Apply for a basement development permit

Request an inspection

Any work done under a permit requires an inspection, which can be booked through your myAIRDRIE account.

Book an inspection