Can I put a bedroom in my basement if there's no egress window?

No, you cannot legally put a bedroom in a basement without a proper egress window. This is a critical safety requirement under the BC Building Code that protects occupants in case of fire or emergency.

The BC Building Code (BCBC 2024) is absolutely clear on this requirement: every bedroom must have either direct access to the exterior or an egress window that meets specific size and accessibility standards. For basement bedrooms, this means you need a window with a minimum opening area of 0.35 square meters (about 3.8 square feet), with no dimension less than 380mm (15 inches), and the bottom of the opening cannot be more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the floor.

Why this matters in Vancouver: Many older homes in East Vancouver, Burnaby, and other areas have basement spaces that seem perfect for bedrooms but lack proper egress. This is especially common in Vancouver Specials and post-war bungalows where basements were originally designed for storage or recreation only. The City of Vancouver actively enforces these requirements during inspections, and insurance companies may deny claims if bedrooms don't meet code.

Creating legal basement bedrooms typically requires installing a proper egress window, which means cutting through the foundation wall and potentially excavating a window well. This work costs $3,000-$8,000 depending on soil conditions and whether you need a drain system. The window well must be properly waterproofed and drained - critical in Vancouver's wet climate where basement moisture is already a concern.

Professional requirements: This work requires a building permit from your municipality, structural assessment to ensure you're not compromising the foundation, and proper waterproofing. You'll need a qualified contractor experienced with basement conversions and Vancouver's specific drainage challenges.

What you CAN do: Use the space as a den, office, recreation room, or storage - just not as a bedroom. If you're planning to create a legal secondary suite, the egress window becomes even more critical as suites require separate egress routes.