Basement Renovations in Richmond Hill
Luxury basement finishing for Richmond Hill homes. Free 3D design, an itemized price that locks before you sign, a lifetime workmanship warranty and a written finish date that pays you $200 for every late day.
Get a Free EstimateSee our projectsBasement renovation in Richmond Hill, street by street
Established neighbourhoods like Mill Pond and Crosby mix mature homes where moisture control and ceiling height come first, while Bayview Hill, Jefferson and Oak Ridges offer newer two-storey homes with tall, dry, builder-grade basements ready for a premium finish: theatres, bars, gyms and in-law suites. Our luxury basement renovations in Toronto and the GTA page shows what that finish looks like.
Richmond Hill also now allows up to three units on most residential lots, making a legal basement suite one of the strongest income plays in York Region. Whatever you start with, you end with finished square footage your family uses every week, and a number your Richmond Hill house carries at resale.
What we build in Richmond Hill basements
Basement finishing
Theatres, bars, gyms and family spaces. Wood studs with metal tracks and moisture-resistant drywall as standard, finished to match the rest of your home.
EXPLORE BASEMENT FINISHING →
Home renovations
Kitchens, bathrooms and whole-home updates for Richmond Hill families, built with the same crew and warranty as our basements.
EXPLORE HOME RENOVATIONS →
Structural & legal suites
Underpinning for ceiling height, waterproofing, and permitted separate entrances for legal Richmond Hill second suites.
EXPLORE STRUCTURAL WORK →Basement renovation permits in Richmond Hill, handled for you
Richmond Hill requires a building permit before finishing a basement or converting one into an Additional Residential Unit (ARU). Under the city's current zoning by-law, ARUs are permitted in most zones that allow single-family homes, up to three units on a lot, which has made legal basement suites dramatically easier to approve than a decade ago. Electrical work needs its own ESA permit, and suites must meet fire-separation and egress requirements. Our licensed structural engineer prepares and stamps the permit drawings, and we file the permits, coordinate the ESA, and book every staged inspection, so the city process never becomes your problem.
Drawings & zoning
Stamped by a licensed structural engineer for your Richmond Hill address
Permit filed by us
We file it and track it. You never stand in line.
Staged inspections
Framing, insulation, ESA electrical, plumbing
Final sign-off
Closed permit, documented for resale
A free 3D design of your finished basement
Walk your basement room by room in 3D. Move a wall, swap a finish, then approve every detail before a stud goes up.
"The quality of their work exceeded our expectations, and they transformed our space into a beautiful, functional area. I highly recommend Desire Basements to anyone looking for reliable and skilled basement contractors!"
TOM KONSTANTAS · HOMEOWNER IN RICHMOND HILL · ✓ GOOGLE REVIEWBuilt on trust, backed in writing
Basement renovations across the GTA since 2017, the owner on every site.
Lifetime workmanship warranty on every wall, floor and fixture we install, in writing.
Your quote includes a written timeline. If we miss it, we pay you $200 for every late day.
Every basement is priced from the same quote sheet, line by line. Permit drawings, 3D design and the lifetime workmanship warranty are included.
A 1,525 sq ft luxury basement on Baynards Lane
- Completed 2024
- 1,525 sq ft
- About 12 weeks
- $260,000 to $270,000
A 27-foot painted kitchen with an 8-and-a-half-foot island, a large four-piece bathroom with a curbless tiled shower, and a dedicated dog-wash spa. The gym sits behind glass walls and double doors with fluted panelling, the lounge centres on a 60-inch linear fireplace, and the custom millwork runs to an L-shaped bench, lockers and a bathroom storage tower. Five pocket doors and 53 pot lights.



What a basement in Richmond Hill costs, by scope
The same quote sheet we use everywhere in the GTA, line by line. Permit drawings, 3D design and the lifetime workmanship warranty are included.
| Scope | Price before HST |
|---|---|
| 600 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom | $56,000 |
| 800 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom | $62,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom | $67,800 |
| 1,200 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom and two bedrooms | $75,200 |
| 1,500 sq ft with a three-piece bathroom and two bedrooms | $83,700 |
| The family basement: media wall, full bathroom, laundry, around 1,000 sq ft | $60,000 to $85,000 |
| The entertainment build: theatre or media room, bar, gym, spa bathroom, 1,000 to 1,300 sq ft | $95,000 to $130,000 |
| Three-piece bathroom, added to a basement without one | $11,700 |
| Custom wet bar | +$15,000 |
| Home theatre setup | +$20,000 |
| Walkout entrance, permits included | $15,000 to $25,000 |
| Full-perimeter underpinning for low ceilings | $60,000 to $120,000 |
| Legal basement apartment, purpose-built | $75,000 to $110,000 or more |
Every basement is priced from the same quote sheet, line by line: a 1,000 sq ft basement with a three-piece bathroom comes to about $67,800 before HST, and the price per square foot falls as the basement grows because the permit, bin, breakers, stairs and bathroom cost the same at any size. Use the calculator to price yours. Cost guides: bathroom, walkout and underpinning.
Answers for Richmond Hill homeowners
Do I need a permit to finish my basement in Richmond Hill?
Yes. Richmond Hill requires a building permit before finishing a basement or adding a basement apartment. Desire Basements handles the drawings, the application, and all staged inspections through final sign-off.
Are basement apartments legal in Richmond Hill?
Yes. Richmond Hill permits Additional Residential Units (ARUs) in most zones that allow single-family homes, up to three units on a single lot. The suite must meet Ontario Building Code requirements for ceiling height, fire separation and egress, plus a separate ESA electrical permit. We build Richmond Hill basement suites to full code, approvals included.
How long does a basement renovation take in Richmond Hill?
Plan on about two months for a typical basement, about two and a half with custom cabinetry, about three for a legal suite, with a written completion date on every contract backed by our $200 a day on-time guarantee.
Ready for your Richmond Hill basement renovation?
Book a free in-home consultation. We'll measure your space, talk through your vision, and bring a 3D design with your itemized basement renovation quote.
Get a Free EstimateA real basement we finished in Richmond Hill
Tap to watch the walkthrough, filmed on site, no staging.

