Secondary Suite Design

Legal suite drawings made simple.

BCIN-qualified permit drawings for basement apartments, second suites, and additional residential units in Barrie, Alliston, Orillia, and Simcoe County.

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Basement Apartments Permit Drawings BCIN Design

Secondary suites

Permit-ready drawings for legal second suites and ARUs

A secondary suite, basement apartment, in-law suite, or additional residential unit can help homeowners create flexible living space, support family members, or add long-term rental potential.

ESCL Design prepares clear, code-conscious residential drawings for homeowners who need a building permit package for a new or existing secondary suite.

Local permit support

Supporting homeowners across Barrie, Alliston, Orillia, and Simcoe County

Barrie Secondary Suites

Barrie homeowners planning a basement apartment, in-law suite, or additional residential unit need to consider zoning, building permit requirements, inspections, and registration.

  • Permit drawings for second suites and ARUs
  • Basement apartment layout planning
  • Entrance, parking, and circulation review
  • Support for registration-ready documentation

Alliston & New Tecumseth

For Alliston and New Tecumseth projects, zoning should be confirmed before design is finalized. We help homeowners prepare drawings that respond to the property, existing layout, and permit requirements.

  • Secondary dwelling unit design support
  • Existing home layout review
  • Permit drawing preparation
  • Coordination-ready plans for municipal review

Orillia Additional Dwelling Units

Orillia homeowners may need zoning review, site planning, grading considerations, and building permit drawings when creating an additional dwelling unit.

  • Site plan and existing condition documentation
  • Interior suite layouts
  • Permit drawing packages
  • Support for new or existing unit legalization

Drawing package

What can be included in your secondary suite permit set

Existing & Proposed Plans

We document the existing home and prepare proposed layouts that clearly show the new suite configuration.

  • Existing floor plans
  • Proposed basement or suite layout
  • Room names and dimensions
  • Door, window, and stair information

Code-Conscious Details

Secondary suites require careful planning for safety, separation, exiting, and service access. Drawings are prepared with permit review in mind.

  • Fire separation notes
  • Smoke and CO alarm locations
  • Egress window review
  • Exit path and entrance planning

Permit Coordination

We help organize the drawing package so it can be submitted for building permit review with the correct scope and supporting information.

  • BCIN design information
  • Municipal drawing package support
  • Revision support during review
  • Coordination with other consultants if needed

Before you build

Key items to review before starting a secondary suite

Zoning
Confirm that the property can accommodate the proposed additional residential unit, including local zoning rules and lot conditions.
Building permit
A building permit is typically required before construction or conversion work begins.
Life safety
Review exiting, fire separation, alarms, egress windows, ceiling heights, and service access early in the design.
Registration
Some municipalities, including Barrie, require secondary suites or detached accessory dwelling units to be registered after the required process is complete.

Our process

A clear path from idea to permit-ready drawings

1. Discovery
We review your property, project goals, existing layout, and the type of suite you want to create.
2. Site Measure
We document existing conditions so the drawings reflect the current home accurately.
3. Design & Drawings
We prepare the proposed suite layout, code notes, plans, and details required for permit review.
4. Permit Support
We help respond to drawing comments or required revisions during the municipal review process.

Funding awareness

County of Simcoe and local ARU funding considerations

Some homeowners may be eligible for funding or incentive programs related to affordable additional residential units. These programs can change, may have limited funding, and usually require eligibility review before approval.

ESCL Design can help with the drawing side of your project, but funding approval, rental requirements, program eligibility, and municipal incentives should always be confirmed directly with the County of Simcoe or the applicable municipality before relying on a program.

Questions

Secondary suite design questions homeowners often ask

Do I need a building permit for a secondary suite?

In most cases, yes. A building permit is typically required when creating or legalizing a secondary suite, basement apartment, or additional residential unit. The exact requirements depend on your municipality and the scope of work.

Can ESCL Design help with an existing basement apartment?

Yes. We can review the existing layout, prepare as-built drawings, develop proposed code-conscious upgrades, and create a permit drawing package for municipal review.

Do you work outside Barrie?

Yes. We support residential design projects in Barrie, Alliston, Orillia, Innisfil, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Midland, and other Simcoe County communities.

What information do I need to start?

Helpful starting information includes your address, photos of the existing space, any existing drawings, your preferred suite layout, entrance location, window locations, and whether the suite already exists or is being newly created.

Start your project

Planning a legal second suite or basement apartment?

Book a free consultation to review your property, design goals, and the drawing package needed for your permit.

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