Yes — in Toronto, a basement bedroom needs an egress window that meets Ontario Building Code (OBC) 9.9.10.1, and without one, the room does not legally count as a bedroom. A window that opens a few inches isn't enough: the code requires an opening large enough to climb through, low enough to reach from the floor, openable from inside without tools, and served by a correctly sized window well where the window sits below grade. This applies to every sleeping room in a basement — whether it's part of a secondary suite, a rental unit, or a room you advertise as a bedroom.
What Makes a Basement Bedroom Legal in Toronto?
In Toronto, a legal bedroom isn't defined by a bed and a closet. The home must meet the OBC, and the OBC treats basement sleeping rooms differently from above-grade rooms because they're harder to escape in a fire.
For a basement bedroom to be legal in Toronto, it must have at least one window that:
- Opens directly to the outdoors
- Meets the minimum opening size in OBC 9.9.10.1
- Has a sill no higher than 1,000 mm above the finished floor
- Opens without tools or special knowledge
- Is served by a properly drained window well when installed below grade
If the window doesn't meet these rules, the room isn't a bedroom under the code. The City's Property Standards bylaw (Municipal Code Chapter 629) references these same requirements, so renting out that room as a bedroom can trigger a compliance order, fines, and — worse — it leaves the occupant without a safe way out in an emergency.
Ontario Building Code Requirements Under OBC 9.9.10.1
Here are the specific numbers your egress window must hit:
- Openable area: at least 0.35 m² (about 3.8 sq ft)
- Minimum dimension: no side shorter than 380 mm (about 15 inches)
- Sill height: no more than 1,000 mm (about 39 inches) above the finished floor
- Operation: openable from the inside without tools, special knowledge, or excessive force
- Security bars or grilles: must be removable from the inside without tools
- Window well: for below-grade windows, the well must provide at least 0.55 m² (about 5.9 sq ft) of clear space, with no dimension smaller than 550 mm, and must drain so water doesn't sit against the basement wall
One detail that catches people: the inspector measures the actual open sashes, not the glass size. A window that looks big in the frame can still fail if the open portion is undersized. That's why we verify the rough opening and sash dimensions on site and size the window so it clears the OBC numbers after installation — not just on paper.
OBC 9.9.10.1 covers egress from bedrooms on every storey, but basement installations have the extra window well and sill-height rules. If you're finishing a basement or converting a room into a rental bedroom, the egress window is the first thing an inspector will check.
What's Included in an Egress Window Installation
When Egress Window Pros Toronto installs an egress window and window well, the scope includes:
- Saw-cutting and removal of the concrete foundation wall
- Excavation of the window well area, including removal of soil and debris
- Supply and installation of an OBC-compliant egress window sized to your rough opening
- Supply and installation of a steel or aluminum window well
- Drainage stone, weeping tile, and connection to the footing drain
- Backfill and compaction
- Exterior waterproofing membrane around the new opening
- Sealing, cleanup, and removal of all waste
Interior drywall finishing and painting are quoted separately if you need them. Window well covers are also separate — budget $300–$900 for a lockable, debris-proof cover.
Egress Window Pricing in Toronto for 2025
Typical ranges for this work:
- Egress window installation: $4,500–$8,000
- Window well installation: $800–$2,500
- Window well covers: $300–$900
- Window well drainage & waterproofing: $500–$3,000
- Window well replacement & repair: $500–$2,000
- Basement waterproofing: from $1,200
The price of an egress window install depends on the depth of the well, soil conditions, how much concrete needs cutting, the window size, and whether you're finishing the interior around the opening. We'll give you a fixed number after the site evaluation — not a range that grows once the work starts.
The Installation Process
1. Free site evaluation. We measure the existing window, check the rough opening, assess the soil and drainage, and confirm what the well depth and size need to be. You get a quote within 48 hours.
2. Cutting and excavation. We saw-cut the concrete foundation and excavate the well area. On deeper wells, we shore up the excavation so the foundation and footing stay protected.
3. Drainage prep. Gravel and weeping tile go in before the window, so water is directed away from the base of the wall. This is the step that prevents freeze-thaw heave and wet basement walls later.
4. Window and well installation. The new egress window is set and sealed. The steel or aluminum well is anchored to the foundation and sized to meet OBC clearances. Deep wells get a permanently installed step or ladder.
5. Backfill and waterproofing. We backfill in lifts, compact, apply waterproofing membrane where required, and seal all transitions.
6. Cleanup and walkthrough. We remove debris, sweep the area, and walk you through operation of the window, the well, and the drainage system.
Why Choose Egress Window Pros Toronto
- OBC 9.9.10.1 is our default, not a checkbox. Every install is laid out to clear the code minimums with the sashes fully open.
- 12 years of below-grade work. 400+ egress windows and window wells installed across the GTA.
- Year-round installs. Toronto's freeze-thaw cycles are handled with proper drainage and stone bedding, so your well doesn't heave or hold water come spring.
- 10-year workmanship warranty on all installations.
- Licensed, insured, and WSIB covered. Family-run and accountable — the people who quote the job are the people who do the work.