BuildRules/Aurora/Basement apartment / secondary suite

Aurora project guide

Do you need a permit for a secondary dwelling unit in Aurora?

Check Aurora second-suite requirements for zoning, building or change-of-use permits, inspections and registration.

2 min readLast verified Oct 2, 2026
The short answerConditional

Yes. Creating a two-unit house requires compliance with zoning and the Building Code, plus a building or change-of-use permit and registration.

Aurora treats a second suite as a regulated dwelling unit, not ordinary basement finishing. Permit, electrical-safety and registration steps can all apply.

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Aurora / Basement apartment / secondary suite

Yes. Creating a two-unit house requires compliance with zoning and the Building Code, plus a building or change-of-use permit and registration.

Town of Aurora · BuildRules reviewed 2026-10-02

Know what matters

Know what applies to your project.

Check the conditions below before you finalize the scope. Every answer connects to an official source.

Second suiteBuilding or change-of-use permit requiredConditional

Aurora states that owners proposing a two-unit house by creating a second suite require the applicable permit.

Source · Town of Aurora

Secondary Dwelling Units · Second-suite zoning, permit and registration requirements

Verified Oct 2, 2026Open official source
Zoning and Building CodeBoth applyConditional

The proposed second suite must comply with Aurora zoning provisions and the Ontario Building Code.

Source · Town of Aurora

Secondary Dwelling Units · Second-suite zoning, permit and registration requirements

Verified Oct 2, 2026Open official source
RegistrationRequiredConditional

Aurora requires two-unit houses to be registered with Building Services.

Source · Town of Aurora

Secondary Dwelling Units · Second-suite zoning, permit and registration requirements

Verified Oct 2, 2026Open official source

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Preparation checklist · Reviewed 2026-10-02

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Plan ahead

Fees and timing

TimelineConfirm the current municipal review timeline after a complete application is accepted.
FeesConfirm the current Aurora fee schedule for the exact permit class before filing.

From reading to doing

Your next steps.

  1. Confirm zoning eligibility
  2. Choose the correct permit route
  3. Complete construction and required inspections
  4. Complete electrical-safety requirements
  5. Register the dwelling unit
Choose the right permit path

Only finishing the basement for personal use?

A finishes-only basement renovation can follow a different permit route from a second suite or ARU in Aurora.

See Aurora basement-renovation rules

Trace the evidence

Official sources behind this guide.

These are the source documents linked in the rules above. Check the municipal authority for current requirements before submitting a project.

  • Town of Aurora

    Secondary Dwelling Units · Second-suite zoning, permit and registration requirements

    Source verified Oct 2, 2026

A little more clarity

Common questions.

Do you need a permit for a secondary dwelling unit in Aurora?

Yes. Creating a two-unit house requires compliance with zoning and the Building Code, plus a building or change-of-use permit and registration.

What should I prepare for secondary dwelling unit in Aurora?

Start with Application to Construct or Demolish or applicable change-of-use materials; Suite plans and required construction details; Electrical-safety documentation as applicable; Registration application. Confirm the final submission requirements with Aurora for the actual scope.

What should I do before starting this project in Aurora?

Confirm zoning eligibility. Choose the correct permit route. Complete construction and required inspections. Complete electrical-safety requirements. Register the dwelling unit.

Know the approval terms

A second unit can meet one rule and still need another approval.

Building permits, zoning and applicable law are separate parts of the approval path.

Building permit

A municipal approval required before certain construction, alteration, demolition or change-of-use work can proceed. The permit review checks the proposed work against the Ontario Building Code, local zoning and other applicable law.

Zoning by-law

A municipal rule set that controls how land and buildings may be used and developed, including matters such as permitted uses, setbacks, height, lot coverage and other site-specific standards.

Applicable law

Requirements outside the Ontario Building Code that must be satisfied before a building permit can be issued when the Building Code identifies them as applicable law.

Same project, different city

See how this rule changes across Ontario.

Compare the source-reviewed answer for this project across every municipality BuildRules currently covers.

Compare basement apartment / secondary suite rules by city

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01 Permit and local-rule guidance02 Documents to prepare03 Questions still to verify
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A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

A provider match is not guaranteed. Municipal approval stays with the City.

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Do you need a permit to finish a basement in Aurora?

Not always. Aurora lists basement finishing as permit-exempt when there is no structural alteration and no additional sleeping accommodation.

2 min read