Debate: Should we push for mandatory licensing for basement developers in Calgary or keep it informal like it is now?

I was down in Inglewood last week talking to a guy who does basement suites and he said he's pulled 12 permits this year but knows tons of guys running unlicensed crews. On one hand, licensing might mean better quality and insurance for homeowners, but on the other, it could jack up prices and push small operators out. What do you think, do we need rules or is the current system fine?

2 comments

2 Comments

aaronlee8d ago

Expand on what your friend told you. The problem isn't just about quality or price, it's about accountability. If a homeowner hires an unlicensed crew and something goes wrong, like a flood from a bad plumbing job, they have almost no way to get their money back or get it fixed. The city won't help because permits weren't pulled, and insurance might not cover it. That's a big risk for families who are already stretching their budget to build a basement suite. I think a basic license, maybe with a simple test and a bond requirement, would help separate the pros from the fly-by-night guys. It wouldn't have to be expensive, just enough to weed out the ones who leave homeowners with mold and bad wiring.

white.grant8d ago

I mean is it really that big of a deal though? People have been building stuff without permits forever and most of the time it works out fine. A flood from a bad plumbing job sounds like a worst case scenario, not the norm. Plus if someone's already stretching their budget to build a basement suite, adding a license fee and a bond requirement is just another cost they gotta pass on. That test you mentioned, who decides what's on it? Just feels like another way for the city to make money off regular folks trying to get ahead. Not every unlicensed crew is out to wreck someone's house, some of them are just guys trying to make a living without jumping through a million hoops.