Is a floor drain required in the basement of a house in Ontario?
Yes, generally. Where a dwelling has a basement and gravity drainage to a sewer, sump or other approved point is available, a floor drain must be installed in the basement to handle spills, condensate and minor leaks.
Paraphrased for clarity — open this provision in the BUILDAiD Library for the exact wording.
The floor drain is the basement's insurance policy: water heater failures, washing machine hose bursts and furnace condensate all end up there. Slope the slab locally toward the drain and keep it near mechanical equipment where feasible. Trap seals in rarely used drains evaporate and let in sewer gas, so trap primers or periodic dosing are wise. In areas served by combined sewers, backwater valve requirements may accompany the drain. Finishing a basement over the drain, or tiling it flat, defeats the purpose and can violate the Code.
That round grate in your basement floor is required by code. When a water heater or washing machine lets go, the drain quietly carries the water away instead of letting it flood your finished basement.
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This page is provided for general information. Building code requirements depend on your specific project, occupancy and municipality, and code editions change. Always verify requirements against the current Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.