The previous owner put up some walls in the basement without permits. What should we do?

You'll need to either obtain retroactive permits or remove the unpermitted walls, as leaving them as-is creates serious liability and insurance issues. This is unfortunately a common situation we encounter in Ottawa basements, and while it's frustrating, there are clear steps to resolve it properly.

Start by contacting the City of Ottawa Building Code Services at 613-580-2424 to discuss your options. In many cases, you can apply for retroactive permits if the work meets current building code standards. The city will need to inspect the walls to ensure they comply with the Ontario Building Code, including proper electrical work, fire ratings, and structural considerations. If the walls were built to code standards, you'll typically pay the original permit fees plus a penalty (usually double the original fee), but you'll gain peace of mind and legal compliance.

However, if the walls don't meet code requirements, you'll face a more complex situation. Common issues with unpermitted basement walls include improper electrical work, inadequate fire separation, blocked egress routes, or structural problems. In these cases, the city may require modifications or complete removal and rebuilding to bring everything up to code. This can be costly, but it's essential for safety and legal compliance.

The risks of leaving unpermitted work are significant in Ontario. Your home insurance may deny claims related to unpermitted work, and you could face liability issues if someone is injured. When you eventually sell the home, unpermitted work must be disclosed and can complicate or derail the sale. Additionally, if neighbors report the work or the city discovers it during other inspections, you could face stop-work orders and forced remediation.

For electrical components within these walls, remember that all electrical work in Ontario requires ESA (Electrical Safety Authority) permits and inspection. Even if the framing work might pass inspection, any electrical modifications likely need separate permits and potentially complete rewiring to meet current standards.

Your best approach is to have a qualified contractor assess the work before contacting the city. We can evaluate whether the existing walls meet current code requirements and what modifications might be needed. Sometimes simple adjustments like adding fire-rated drywall or relocating electrical boxes can bring everything into compliance. In other cases, partial or complete reconstruction might be the most cost-effective long-term solution.

Don't delay addressing this issue. The longer unpermitted work remains in place, the more complications can arise. For a professional assessment of your unpermitted basement walls and guidance through the permit process, contact Ottawa Basements for a free consultation.