Renovation in Ottawa: describe the room, a contractor calls back
Tell us the room, the scope and your area. We pass the request to one independent Ottawa renovation company, and they call to set up a site visit and a quote.
In short
- 01Complete bathroom renovation in Ottawa: $15,000–$55,000 (HomeStars Ottawa guide, updated August 2026).
- 02Whole basement renovation in Ottawa: $35,000–$95,000; basic kitchen update, Canada-wide figure: $15,000–$30,000 (HomeStars, 2026).
- 03City building permit for a renovation: $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $117 (City of Ottawa, 2026).
- 04The price moves most with scope: plumbing that moves, walls, windows and the finish level.
Typical ranges
Source Sources: HomeStars, Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa (updated 21/08/2026), https://www.homestars.com/bathroom-sanitary/price-guides/bathroom-renovation-cost-ottawa ; HomeStars, Home Renovation Cost, Canada (updated 21/08/2026), https://www.homestars.com/renovation/price-guides/home-renovation-cost ; HomeStars, Basement Renovation Cost for Ottawa: 2026 Guide, https://www.homestars.com/home-constructions-renovations/price-guides/basement-renovation-cost-ottawa ; City of Ottawa, Comprehensive Building Code Fee Schedule (January 1, 2026), https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/building-and-renovating/forms-applications-and-fees/comprehensive-building-code-fee-schedule
What to ask before you book
- Q1Will you see the space in person before you put a quote in writing?
- Q2Who applies for the City building permit, and is the fee in your price?
- Q3What deposit do you take, and how is the rest of the payment split?
- Q4Which trades are your own crew, which are subcontracted, and who pays the subs?
- Q5Do you have WSIB coverage for your workers and liability insurance?
Before the visit
- Photos of the room from two or three corners, plus the electrical panel and the main water shut-off.
- Rough measurements: floor size and ceiling height.
- A short list of must-haves and a budget ceiling you are ready to say on the call.
- The months that suit you for the work and any dates the house is unavailable.
Pick the room
Bathrooms, kitchens and basements each have their own page with ranges and questions:
- Bathroom renovation: tile, vanity, tub-to-shower, moved plumbing.
- Kitchen renovation: cabinets, counters, layout changes.
- Basement renovation: rec room, bedroom, bathroom, suite.
Another room or a mix of jobs works too. Write it as it is, one line per room.
What to put in the request
A contractor reads your request before calling. The more of this they see, the shorter and more useful the first call is:
- Room and size. “Main bathroom, about 5 by 8 feet” says more than “small bathroom”.
- What goes and what stays. Keep the tub? Keep the cabinets and change the counters?
- What moves. Drains, walls, windows and new circuits change the price and bring in permits.
- The house. Type and rough age: a 1960s bungalow and a 2015 townhouse open up very differently once the walls come down.
- Timing. The season you want, and any hard date such as a sale or a new baby.
How the price builds up
The ranges above come from published cost guides and show the market. Your own number comes after a contractor sees the space. Labour, materials and the finish level you choose drive it. Work hidden behind walls, such as old wiring or water damage, shows up once demolition begins, which is why a written contract and a signed change order matter.
Permits and paperwork
The City of Ottawa charges $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value for a renovation permit, with a $117 minimum. A $20,000 job comes to about $255 at that rate. Ontario rules require a written contract for any job over $50. The contract names the work, materials, warranties, total price with taxes, payment schedule, and the start and completion dates.
Before you sign
Ontario’s Consumer Beware List is a public, searchable list of businesses charged or convicted under consumer law. A WSIB clearance certificate shows a company is registered with WSIB and paid up, and anyone can check one online. Check both between the first call and the signature.
Who calls you back
613 Pros passes your request to one independent local renovation company. They call you, ask what they need and arrange to see the space.
Questions
01Do I need a building permit for a renovation in Ottawa?
Often, yes. The City lists adding or removing walls, new or enlarged windows, plumbing changes beyond swapping existing fixtures, and finishing a basement as permit projects. Painting, new flooring and replacing cabinets with the plumbing in the same place need no permit.
02How much deposit is normal?
Ontario’s guide for renovation businesses recommends a deposit of no more than 10% of the total project cost. Put the deposit and the payment schedule in the written contract.
03Can the final bill go over the estimate?
Under Ontario consumer rules, a contractor cannot charge more than 10% above an estimate in the contract without a change you both sign. Every change mid-project goes in writing.
04I signed at home and changed my mind. What now?
A contract signed at your home has a 10-day cooling-off period in Ontario. The refund, deposit included, is due within 15 days of your notice.
05Who does the renovation?
An independent local renovation company. 613 Pros passes your request to one company; the price, the contract and the work are between you and them.