Pro tip: don't skip the building permit on a basement bathroom, my $400 gamble cost me $2,100

Ben Gibson · 2026-09-14T09:10:03.311253+00:00

Everyone on here says just do the work and skip the city, so I framed and roughed in a basement bathroom in my Capilano house without pulling a permit. My neighbour ratted me out during his own inspection, and the city made me open two walls, pay double fees, and redo my vent stack because it was 2 inches off code. Total came to about $2,100 on top of the $400 permit I was trying to dodge. The inspector was actually decent about it and walked me through what he wanted fixed, which nobody warned me about. Has anyone here gone through the city after the fact, and did they let you keep your rough-in or make you start over?

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Pro tip: don't skip the building permit on a basement bathroom, my $400 gamble cost me $2,100 | Edmonton Home Reno - Guest Forum