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New York City is crowded, where finding affordable or spacious accommodations can be challenging. If you own an apartment with a basement, you are rich in square footage. You can turn that into a habitable unit to maximize the available area. However, converting these sections into a living unit requires complete adherence to building codes. Plus, location also matters. Otherwise, you will be in legal soup. Zicklin Contracting team, with over 37 years of experience in restoration and remodeling services, understands all the zoning and building codes well, ensuring the safety of your investment. We will examine the property and create a thorough design and construction plan to legalize your basement apartment in the city.

Requirements for a legal basement apartment

A conversion plan for basement NYC must account for the zoning and local building regulations for safe use.

  • Separate entrance

Every basement apartment must have an emergency exit or a separate entrance leading to the yard or street. It provides privacy during regular days and safe exits during crisis.

  • Egress windows

Each bedroom in the basement apartment must have a window for proper air and light. These should be large enough to allow egress. It’s most relevant for bedrooms. A few considerations play a vital role:

  • The distance of the finished floor to the bottom of the window opening must be not more than 44 inches.
  • The window opening must be 24 inches or higher and 20 inches wide.
  • The window’s total opening area has to be at least 5.7 square feet.
  • For ventilation, the window opening should be a minimum of 4% of the overall floor space.

 

  • Ceiling height

The ceilings in this part of the house will be lower than those in the other areas. However, the habitable rooms in the basement apartment must have a 7-foot ceiling. The bathroom and laundry room ceilings can be 6ft 8 inches.

  • Bedroom size

A legal basement apartment’s bedroom must be at least 70 sq. ft.


 

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Cost of basement apartment conversion

Most homeowners wonder if converting basements into habitable units makes sense. The main area of concern often remains the project cost and legal issues. Our professionals are well aware of your doubts and stress. That’s why we offer end-to-end support to lift unnecessary pressure from your mind and help you enjoy your remodeling efforts. Typically, these endeavors cost around $50,000 – $75,000 on the lower side and $100,000 – $200,000+ on the higher side. Additional costs will be required if you legalize an illegal basement. We can discuss all the nitty-gritty, including legal challenges and ways to overcome them, in detail to make this extra square footage of your house more purposeful.

FAQs

  • What makes a basement different from a cellar?

Cellars cannot be used as residential dwellings, but basements can be converted into habitable spaces.

  • Can you build a bedroom in the basement apartment in NYC?

Yes. However, it should meet all the local building and zoning codes for legalization around egress windows, ceiling height, lighting, ventilation, smoke alarms, etc.

  • How much of a fine do you face for illegal conversion in NYC?

Suppose you live in Queens. It can cost around $250 to $15,000 or more, depending on the type and number of violations made per the Environmental Control Board.

  • Is it legal to have a kitchen in a basement apartment?

Yes. However, it must satisfy all the legal codes.

Call Us

Whether you need help with an illegal basement apartment or a legal basement conversion, our team of experts at Zicklin Contractors will be glad to assist you. Feel free to call our team at +1-347-495-4959 or 718-550-2779 from Monday to Friday between 8am to 5pm for immediate assistance.

 

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