Gatineau
Can you add a basement apartment in Gatineau?
The number of dwelling units allowed in a building is set zone by zone by the specifications grid ("dwelling/building ratio"); the zoning by-law has no general rule on basement accessory units.
Permit depends on the caseA zone, a heritage area or a shoreline can have its own standards: with your address, the Radar reads your zone's grid and tells you what applies to your property.
The rules, in short
- The number of dwelling units allowed in a building is set zone by zone by the specifications grid ("dwelling/building ratio"); the zoning by-law has no general rule on basement accessory units. (art. 3, definition 273°)
Summary by Radar Foncier, in our own words: the official French text of the by-law, linked above, prevails.
Applying in Gatineau
- Processing time: No set processing time: applications are reviewed as soon as possible, depending on volume, once complete and paid
- Cost: Set by the By-law on the administration of urban planning by-laws 501-2005 (s. 103.1 to 110); shown when you apply online
- Urban planning department: 311
- Permits on the municipality's website
Other projects in Gatineau
Basement apartment elsewhere: Côte Saint-Luc, Dorval, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Vaudreuil-Dorion, Westmount.
Version française de cette page
Source: Zoning By-law 532-2020 (administrative compilation), French version, checked on October 22, 2026. Plain-English summary: the official French text prevails, and a by-law can change. Confirm with the Gatineau urban planning department before buying materials. Radar Foncier is an independent service, not affiliated with the municipality.
Radar Foncier in English. Permits and rules for Québec homeowners; the full site and the reports are in French. Version française