Basement Suites in Winnipeg, Manitoba

BASEMENT SUITE RENOVATIONS IN WINNIPEG

Q: What makes a suite different from a finished basement with a kitchen?

A suite is a separate home. The City treats an attached secondary suite as an independent dwelling unit with its own entrance, and it needs a development permit as well as a building permit. The building code then adds fire protection, a smoke-tight barrier, sound control, alarms and exits that an ordinary finished basement doesn’t need.

Q: How long does a basement suite take to build?

Our typical basement development takes four to eight weeks of construction. A suite adds a kitchen, fire and sound separation, and more inspections, and both the development and building permits have to be in place before building starts. We give you a schedule for your suite with the written quote, and update it every week once work begins.

Q: Is there government help to build a secondary suite?

Since January 15, 2025, federal mortgage insurance rules have let eligible homeowners refinance to build a secondary suite, with financing of up to 90 per cent of the home’s value including the value the suite adds. The Canada Secondary Suite Loan Program announced in 2024 will not be implemented, according to Budget 2025. Ask your lender what you qualify for.

Q: Is there a tax credit for a family suite?

Possibly. Canada’s Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit covers certain expenses to create a self-contained secondary unit that lets a senior, or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit, live with a qualifying relative. Eligibility and amounts depend on your situation, so confirm with the Canada Revenue Agency or your accountant before counting on it.

Q: Should the basement be checked for moisture and radon first?

Yes. A suite is someone’s home, so the basement must be dry before framing, and active leaks or foundation cracks go to a waterproofing or foundation specialist first. Health Canada recommends a long-term radon test of at least three months, ideally in fall or winter, and a certified mitigation professional if levels exceed 200 Bq/m³.

Q: What happens at the free on-site visit?

We measure ceiling heights, look at the window openings and where a separate entrance could go, and check where the furnace, water heater, panel and drains sit. We talk through who the suite is for. You then receive a written quote, and we confirm the zoning and permit route for your lot before the layout is set.

We develop self-contained basement suites in Winnipeg and nearby communities, for a tenant or a family member. Zoning and permits are confirmed first, then the entrance, egress windows, kitchen, bathroom, fire protection and sound control are planned.

Free on-site visit
Zoning & permits checked first
Weekly progress updates

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BRIDGING DREAMS INTO REALITY ✦

WINNIPEG MANITOBA ✦

OVER 60 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE ✦

MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS ✦

QUALITY WORK, NO SHORTCUTS ✦

BRIDGING DREAMS INTO REALITY ✦

WINNIPEG MANITOBA ✦

OVER 60 YEARS OF COMBINED EXPERIENCE ✦

MORE THAN 100 PROJECTS ✦

QUALITY WORK, NO SHORTCUTS ✦

60+

Years of combined experience

100+

Projects completed across Winnipeg

4–8

Weeks for a typical basement development

1day

Reply within one business day

Room with light grey walls, a black loveseat, a white dresser, and a floor lamp

Permits Before Framing

Zoning, exits and separation settled before the first stud goes up.

Why plan a suite properly?

A suite is a second home, not a basement with a stove

A basement suite has to work as its own home. The City of Winnipeg treats an attached secondary suite as an independent dwelling unit with a separate entrance, and the Manitoba Building Code adds requirements for exits, egress windows, ceiling height, fire protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and sound control.

Most of those decisions are fixed before framing, so that’s where we start. At the on-site visit we look at ceiling height, window openings, where an entrance could go, and where the furnace, water heater and panel sit. Then we confirm the zoning and permit route for your lot before you commit to a layout.

Once the plan is approved, the build follows the same order as any basement we develop: moisture checked first, walls insulated for winter, then mechanical, drywall and finishes, with inspections at each stage and a progress update every week.

Separate Entrances
Egress Windows
Suite Kitchens & Baths
Fire Protection & Sound Control

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What’s Included

What does a basement suite renovation include?

A basement suite renovation covers everything a separate home needs below grade: a zoning and permit check, a layout with its own entrance, egress windows, a kitchen and bathroom, heating and ventilation, fire protection and sound control between units, alarms, finishes and inspections. The permits come first, the framing second.

Zoning & Permit Check

Confirming a suite is allowed on your lot, then coordinating the development permit, the building permit, and the separate electrical and plumbing permits.

Layout & Entrance

A plan for a self-contained unit with its own entrance, living area, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom, laid out around the mechanical room and existing drains.

Exits & Egress Windows

The exits the suite needs and egress windows for sleeping rooms, cut into the foundation with window wells that leave room to climb out.

Kitchen & Bathroom

Drain, supply and venting for a full suite kitchen and bathroom, tied into the house plumbing under the plumbing permit.

Fire, Sound & Air

The smoke-tight barrier, fire protection, sound control, heating and ventilation the Manitoba Building Code calls for between the suite and the main house.

Alarms, Finishes & Inspections

Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, flooring, trim and paint, then the final inspections that close the permits before anyone moves in.

Project Types

Who is the suite for, and where does it start?

Most basement suites start from one of two places, an unfinished basement or a finished one, and are built for one of two people: a tenant or a family member. Each combination changes the work. A finished basement often needs walls and ceilings opened to meet suite requirements, while an unfinished one lets the suite be planned from scratch.

Suite in an unfinished basement

The cleanest start: layout, exits, separation and plumbing are all planned from bare concrete, with nothing to remove first.

Converting a finished basement

An existing rec room or bedroom turned into a suite. Walls and ceilings often need opening to add fire protection, sound control and new plumbing.

Basement rental suite

A suite built for a tenant, with its own entrance and its own kitchen and bathroom. Landlord and tenant matters fall under the Province’s Residential Tenancies Branch.

In-law or family suite

A suite for a parent, adult child or relative who wants independence under the same roof. A federal tax credit may apply; see the questions below.

One-bedroom basement apartment

A typical layout: an open kitchen and living area, one bedroom with an egress window, a bathroom and laundry, sized to the floor area zoning allows.

Planning a suite for later

Not ready to build it yet? A basement can be developed with a future suite’s entrance, plumbing and separation in mind, so converting later means less rework.

In Winnipeg

What does Winnipeg require for a secondary suite?

Two permits, at minimum. The City of Winnipeg says homeowners need a development permit and a building permit before building a secondary suite, plus separate electrical and plumbing permits. Zoning rules set limits such as the suite’s floor area, and the Zoning By-law was amended in June 2025, so we confirm the current rules for your lot first.

Development permit, then building permit

The building permit application can go in once the development permit application is complete (concurrent review) or after it is approved (sequential review). Electrical and plumbing permits are separate again.

One suite per property

The City’s secondary suites page says only one attached or detached secondary suite is permitted on a single-family property, and an attached suite is an independent dwelling unit with a separate entrance. We confirm how that applies to your lot before the layout is set.

Zoning limits for your lot

The Zoning By-law limits things like floor area, and it was amended in June 2025. If a suite doesn’t meet the by-law, the City says conditional use approval or a variance may be needed. We confirm the current rules with the City before the layout is set.

Building code checklist

The City lists the Manitoba Building Code items a suite must address: exits, a smoke-tight barrier, window egress, ceiling height, fire protection, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, sound control, heating and ventilation, water supply, electrical and utility access.

Inspections before covering

Rough-in inspections of framing, heating, electrical and plumbing happen before walls and ceilings close. The final inspection confirms all work under every permit is complete and the suite is ready for occupancy.

Short-term rentals and tenancies

In Winnipeg, a rental of fewer than 30 nights is a short-term rental and needs a business licence. Landlord and tenant matters, such as leases and damage deposits, are handled by the Province’s Residential Tenancies Branch.

How It Works

From First Visit to Move-In Day

On a suite, the permits come before the framing, so the order of these steps matters.

On-Site Visit

We measure the basement, check ceiling height, windows, entrance options and the mechanical room, and talk through who the suite is for.

Zoning & Permits

We confirm the zoning rules for your lot, settle the layout with you, and coordinate the development, building and trade permits.

Build

Moisture checks, framing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, fire protection and sound control, then drywall and finishes, with a progress update every week.

Inspections & Handover

Rough-in and final inspections under every permit, a walkthrough with you, and a full clean before the suite is handed over.

Book an appointment

Let’s talk about your basement suite

Send us the details and we’ll come to the property, look at the space with you, and give you a straight answer on what it takes.

Free, no-obligation visit
We come out, measure up, and talk it through. You decide after that.
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Our team gets back to you by phone, text, or email — your pick.
Clear written quote
One price, itemised, with nothing hiding in the small print.
Your details stay private
We use them to get back to you about your project, and we never sell them.
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431-866-5644 — Winnipeg, Manitoba

Get Your Free Basement Suite Price Guide

Answer a few quick questions to receive a useful starting price range for your project. This planning guide is free and does not obligate you to proceed.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The things people ask us most before booking a basement suite.

Can any basement become a legal suite?+

Not always. The lot must allow a secondary suite under the Zoning By-law, only one suite is allowed per single-family property, and the space must meet Manitoba Building Code items such as ceiling height, exits and egress windows. Where zoning isn’t met, conditional use approval or a variance may be needed. We start checking these at the on-site visit.

What makes a suite different from a finished basement with a kitchen?+

How long does a basement suite take to build?+

Is there government help to build a secondary suite?+

Is there a tax credit for a family suite?+

Should the basement be checked for moisture and radon first?+

What happens at the free on-site visit?+