Egress Window Installation in Toronto & the GTA
Turn your basement into safe, legal living space. Optima cuts, installs, and certifies code-compliant egress windows across Toronto and the GTA. Permits, excavation, window well, and final inspection are handled by one licensed, insured team.
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When Do You Need an Egress Window?
Ontario requires a code-compliant egress window in every basement bedroom or sleeping area. If you're finishing your basement, adding a legal secondary suite or rental unit, or listing a home with a "bedroom" that has no compliant exit, an egress window isn't optional. It's what makes the space legal, insurable, and safe to sleep in.
The most common projects we install egress windows for: basement bedroom conversions, legal basement apartments and secondary suites, home-office-to-bedroom conversions, and pre-sale corrections when a listing inspection flags a non-compliant bedroom. For the full background on types, benefits, and code details, see our complete guide: All You Need to Know About Egress Windows in Canada.
Not adding a bedroom, just replacing tired basement windows in their existing openings? That’s a simpler, cheaper job: see our basement window replacement service.
Ontario Building Code Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | What the code says |
|---|---|
| Minimum unobstructed opening | 0.35 m² (3.8 sq ft) of clear, unobstructed opening |
| Minimum dimension | No opening dimension less than 380 mm (15″) |
| Operation | Must open from the inside without tools, keys, or special knowledge |
| Window well clearance | Minimum 550 mm (22″) clearance in front of the window where a well is required |
| Below-grade installs | Proper drainage and waterproofing required for the well and cut |
Getting one of these details wrong is the difference between a passed inspection and an expensive re-do. We size the window, well, and excavation to code before any concrete is cut, and every installation is verified at final municipal inspection.
Egress Window Installation Cost in Toronto (2026)
| Component | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Egress window (unit) | $800 – $2,500 |
| Window well (materials + install) | $500 – $2,000 |
| Cutting the foundation | $1,500 – $3,500 |
| Structural support (steel lintel, if needed) | $500 – $1,500 |
| Interior finishing (framing, drywall, trim) | $300 – $800 |
| Permits & inspections | $200 – $500 |
| Total, complete installation | $4,000 – $10,000 per window |
Where you land in that range depends on foundation thickness and material, soil conditions, machine access to the wall, and how much interior finishing you want. You'll get a fixed written quote after a free on-site assessment, so there are no surprises on install day. Want a fast ballpark first? Try our window cost calculator.
How We Install It, Start to Finish
- Free on-site assessment. We check the foundation, grading, drainage, and utilities, confirm code sizing for the room, and give you a fixed written quote.
- Permits. We prepare and file the municipal building permit and schedule the required inspections on your behalf.
- Excavation & cutting. Precision-cut opening in the foundation wall, with structural lintel installed where required.
- Window & well installation. Code-sized egress window set, sealed, and insulated; window well installed with proper drainage and waterproofing so the basement stays dry.
- Finishing & final inspection. Interior framing and trim, site cleanup, and municipal final inspection. You get a compliant, warrantied, done-done installation.
Most installations take 2–4 days. Spring through fall is ideal for excavation, but we install year-round when ground conditions allow.
Why Toronto Homeowners Choose Optima
Optima Windows & Doors has been manufacturing and installing windows in the GTA since 1998. Egress installs are done by our own licensed, insured crews (not subcontractors) and covered by our written workmanship warranty. You can see the products and talk sizing at our Etobicoke showroom, or start with photos over text at (647) 800-6973.
Egress Window Installation Across the GTA
We install egress windows in Toronto, Etobicoke, and across the GTA, including Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Oakville, and Richmond Hill.
Egress Window Installation FAQ
Do I need a building permit for an egress window in Toronto?
How long does the installation take?
Can you install egress windows in winter?
Will cutting my foundation cause leaks or flooding?
Do you handle the final inspection?
How much does a window well cost?
Related Reading
Make Your Basement Legal, Safe, and Bright
Permits and inspection handled, start to finish. Talk to the team that's been building for the GTA since 1998.
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