Forum
« Williamsburg - To Buy or Not? Does the landlord have to clean? »
September 28, 2009
Finishing Basement
I am considering turning my large basement into an apartment for some of my family members to stay in when needed.
I would like to have a small kitchen and bathroom there. How do I go about finishing the basement in a legal manner? Do I need to file with DOB for permission to install a bathroom and a kitchen? Does it take a long time? What if my contractor is my relative who may not have a license. Do I need someone licensed to sign off on the bathroom and kitchen plumbing for it be legal?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Thank you.
Comments
You can't legally live in a basement that is more than 50% below grade and has no windows. You won't get any permits. Finish it off without permits to the extent possible if you can get away with it but it will never count as livable space
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 28, 2009 3:35 PM
My basement has windows although very small ones. What does below grade mean?
Thank you, Dave.
Posted by: shalman at September 28, 2009 5:00 PM
Below level ground outside. Measure how far down you walk down vs. how high the ceiling is. If down > 1/2 of ceiling height no can do legally (this is very rough of course.)
Seriously, if you have to ask all these questions, talk to an architect/engineer or other professional. Many people just do it on the QT.
Posted by: cmu at September 28, 2009 5:20 PM
have extra apartment is a big deal. Including changing CofO, taxes, etc. If you just plan to have some family leaving there seldom, you probably can call room a recreation room, put a toilet without bathtub and do not put kitchen. Or check definition of "auxiliary kitchen" on DOB site.
Basically you do not want to qualify your basement as "another apartment". You want it to be an extension of your apartment. Search this forum there is a tons of info and references.
Posted by: bobjohn at September 28, 2009 5:23 PM
Bobjohn is right. We had to have the DOB (Dept of Buildings) come over to inspect our English Basement in which we have our TV/family room, to clear a past violation from previous owners. When he saw our refrigerator and the utility sink for our laundry and our full bath down there he said if we'd had even a microwave oven too it would have been a problem because he could have called that a kitchen and thus an illegal apartment. You can't have anything remotely resembling a kitchen down there.
Posted by: traditionalmod at September 30, 2009 9:44 AM
Post a comment
Please be patient while your comment is published. It may take a moment.