What happens if I start framing my basement before getting a safety codes permit? Can I just apply for the permit later?

No, you cannot legally start framing before obtaining the required building permit, and applying for a permit after starting work can create serious complications and additional costs.

Starting framing work without a proper building permit violates the Alberta Building Code and municipal bylaws. In Calgary and surrounding municipalities, all structural work including basement framing requires a building permit before any work begins. The Safety Codes Council of Alberta system requires that permits be in place and inspections scheduled at specific stages - you can't retrofit this process after the fact.

The consequences of unpermitted work are significant. When you eventually apply for a permit (which you must do), the Safety Codes Officer will likely require you to expose all framing for inspection, meaning you'll need to remove drywall, insulation, and other finishes you may have already installed. This "open up for inspection" requirement can easily double your renovation costs. The municipality may also issue stop-work orders and fines ranging from $500 to several thousand dollars depending on the scope of unpermitted work.

Insurance and liability issues compound the problem. Your home insurance may not cover damage related to unpermitted work, and if you're using contractors, their liability insurance and WCB Alberta coverage may be void for unpermitted projects. If you plan to sell your home, unpermitted basement development will be flagged during the sale process, potentially killing deals or forcing you to tear out all work and start over with proper permits.

Calgary's enforcement has become more aggressive in recent years. The City actively investigates unpermitted work through complaint hotlines, aerial photography, and utility connection applications. When they discover unpermitted work, they require full compliance including permits, inspections, and often engineering assessments to verify code compliance.

The proper sequence is: apply for building permit first, receive approval, begin framing, schedule framing inspection, pass inspection, then proceed to mechanical rough-ins (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), schedule those inspections, and finally insulation and drywall. Each stage builds on the previous inspection - you cannot skip steps or work backwards through this process.

Your best move is to stop all work immediately and apply for the building permit through your local municipality. Be honest about what work has been completed - Safety Codes Officers would rather work with cooperative homeowners than discover hidden unpermitted work later. The permit application will cost $800-$2,500 depending on your project scope, but this is far less expensive than the potential consequences of continuing without permits.

Find licensed contractors familiar with Calgary's permit process in our directory to help navigate this situation properly.