Bathroom renovation in Ottawa
Describe the bathroom and what you want changed. One independent Ottawa renovation company gets the request and calls to arrange a visit and a quote.
In short
- 01Budget or cosmetic job: $7,000–$12,000. Mid-range with new tile, vanity, toilet and fixtures: $15,000–$30,000 (HomeStars Ottawa, updated August 2026).
- 02High-end bathroom: $40,000–$55,000 and up. Moving plumbing adds $1,500–$5,000.
- 03Tub-to-shower conversion or shower replacement: $4,500–$11,000.
- 04Moving drains or supply lines needs a City permit; swapping fixtures in the same place does not.
- 05The schedule goes in the written contract with start and completion dates, as Ontario rules require for renovation contracts.
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 ; 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 ; City of Ottawa, Building permit projects, https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/building-and-renovating/do-i-need-building-permit/building-permit-projects
What to ask before you book
- Q1What happens to the price if you open the wall or floor and find rot or water damage?
- Q2Who does the plumbing, and who applies for the permit if a drain moves?
- Q3How many days will this bathroom be out of use?
- Q4Are the tile, vanity and fixtures in the quote, or is there an allowance for them?
- Q5What warranty do you give on the work, and is it written into the contract?
Before the visit
- Photos of each wall, the floor, the tub or shower and under the vanity.
- Measurements of the room and the tub or shower, plus ceiling height.
- Links or model numbers for any vanity, toilet or fixtures you already picked.
- Whether the house has a second bathroom to use during the work.
- Parking for a work van and which floor the bathroom is on.
Write the bathroom in four lines
A good request lets the contractor size the job before the first call. Four lines cover it:
- Which bathroom and how big. Main floor, ensuite or basement; rough size in feet.
- What you want gone. Tub, tile, vanity, toilet, flooring, fan.
- What stays where it is. If the toilet and drain stay put, say so. That one line moves the price band.
- Why now. A leak, worn tile, a sale, accessibility. A leak goes first in the request.
Example: “Main bathroom, 5 by 8 ft, 1990s house in Orléans. Tub out, walk-in shower in the same spot, new vanity and floor tile. Toilet stays.”
Price bands in Ottawa
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide splits bathrooms into three bands. A budget or cosmetic job runs $7,000–$12,000. A mid-range job replaces tile, vanity, toilet and fixtures: $15,000–$30,000. High-end work runs $40,000–$55,000 and above. Any drain or supply line that moves adds $1,500–$5,000.
These ranges describe the market. The number for your bathroom comes after a contractor sees the room. Rot or water damage found behind old tile can change it later, through a signed change.
Permit or no permit
The City of Ottawa needs a permit for plumbing that is altered, added or extended. Swapping a toilet or a vanity on the same drain needs none. The fee is $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value with a $117 minimum, so a $20,000 bathroom comes to about $255. Ask who applies and whether the fee is in the quote.
On the call
Have the photos ready and the five questions on this page. Ask for the quote in writing with the tile, vanity and fixtures named or given as an allowance. Ontario rules require a written contract for any job over $50, with the work schedule and payment schedule spelled out.
Paperwork for a bathroom
Three Ontario rules matter most on a bathroom job. The deposit: the province recommends no more than 10% of the total. The estimate: the final bill cannot go more than 10% over the estimate in the contract without a change you both sign. The warranty: the contract lists it. If the crew finds a soft subfloor behind the old tile, the fix goes in a written change that you both sign.
Who gets your request
613 Pros sends your bathroom request to one independent local renovation company. They call, ask what they need and arrange a visit.
Questions
01Does a bathroom renovation in Ottawa need a permit?
It does when plumbing is altered, added or extended, when a wall is added or removed, or when a window is added or enlarged. Replacing existing fixtures in the same place, new flooring and painting need no permit. The fee is $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $117.
02What moves the price the most?
Layout and finish level. Moving a drain adds $1,500–$5,000 on its own, plus the permit. The tile, vanity and fixtures you pick decide which band the job lands in.
03Can I keep the tub and change only the tile and vanity?
Yes. Ask for a cosmetic or partial scope and say so in the request. HomeStars puts cosmetic bathroom jobs in Ottawa at $7,000–$12,000.
04What does a new shower cost in Ottawa?
HomeStars’ Ottawa guide puts a shower installation at $4,500–$8,000, and a shower replacement or tub-to-shower conversion at $4,500–$11,000. A new drain location adds the plumbing cost and a permit.
05Who does the work?
An independent local renovation company. 613 Pros passes your request to one company, and you agree the scope and price with them.