Kitchen renovation in Ottawa
Tell us what the kitchen has now and what you want. One independent Ottawa renovation company gets the request and calls to arrange a measure and a quote.
In short
- 01Basic update with new cabinets, counters and appliances: $15,000–$30,000 (HomeStars Canada guide, updated August 2026).
- 02Mid-range with custom cabinetry, stone counters and professional installation: $30,000–$60,000.
- 03High-end kitchens with premium finishes and layout changes can pass $80,000.
- 04Replacing cabinets with the plumbing in the same place needs no City permit; moving walls or plumbing does.
- 05The price moves with cabinet grade, counter material and any change to the layout.
Typical ranges
Source Sources: HomeStars, Home Renovation Cost, Canada (updated 21/08/2026), https://www.homestars.com/renovation/price-guides/home-renovation-cost ; 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, Projects not requiring Building Permits, https://ottawa.ca/en/planning-development-and-construction/building-and-renovating/do-i-need-building-permit/projects-not-requiring-building-permits
What to ask before you book
- Q1Is the quote itemized: cabinets, counters, backsplash, plumbing, electrical, appliance hook-ups?
- Q2Who measures and installs the counters, and how long is the gap after the cabinets go in?
- Q3Does any wall, window or plumbing line move, and who applies for the permit?
- Q4Who does the electrical work, and who files the notification with the Electrical Safety Authority?
- Q5How many weeks will the kitchen be out of use?
Before the visit
- A sketch of the kitchen with wall lengths, window and door positions and ceiling height.
- Photos of each wall, under the sink and the electrical panel.
- Model numbers of appliances you keep, and sizes of any you plan to buy.
- A few photos of kitchens you like, so the call begins from a picture.
Say what the kitchen is today
A contractor prices a kitchen from what is there now and what changes. Put both in the request:
- Shape and size. Galley, L-shape, U-shape or open to the living room; rough wall lengths.
- What you replace. Cabinets, counters, backsplash, sink, flooring, lighting, appliances.
- What you keep. Say whether the sink, range and fridge stay where they are.
- Wishes that move things. An island with a sink, a wall taken down, a new window.
Example: “L-shaped kitchen, about 10 by 12 ft, townhouse in Kanata. New cabinets and quartz counters, same layout. Keep the fridge and range.”
Three scopes, three bands
The HomeStars Canada guide, updated August 2026, sets out three bands. A basic update with new cabinets, counters and appliances runs $15,000–$30,000. Custom cabinetry, stone counters and professional installation put a kitchen at $30,000–$60,000. Premium finishes with layout changes can pass $80,000.
Ask how the cabinet install and the counter install are sequenced, and how long you will be without a working kitchen.
Permit check
Same layout, same plumbing: the City of Ottawa lists cabinet replacement as a project with no permit. A removed wall, a new window or a moved drain changes that. Electrical work follows its own track: a notification filed with the Electrical Safety Authority, separate from the City permit.
On the call
Have the sketch and photos in front of you. Ask for an itemized written quote with the cabinet line and counter material named. Ontario rules require a written contract for any job over $50, with the work, price, taxes, payment schedule and dates in it.
Changes mid-project
New ideas tend to come up once the old cabinets are out: an extra outlet, a different counter edge, a moved light. Under Ontario rules every change goes in writing and both of you sign it. A contract signed at your home has a 10-day cooling-off period, and the refund, deposit included, is due within 15 days of your notice. If you asked the work to begin inside those 10 days, the contractor may keep a reasonable payment for materials that cannot be returned.
Who gets your request
613 Pros passes your kitchen request to one independent local renovation company. They call, ask what they need and book a time to measure.
Questions
01Do I need a permit to redo my kitchen in Ottawa?
Replacing kitchen cabinets with the plumbing in the same place, new flooring and painting are on the City’s list of projects that need no permit. Removing a wall, adding a window or moving plumbing needs one. The fee is $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, minimum $117.
02Why are these Canada-wide figures?
HomeStars’ Ottawa kitchen table dates from January 2021 and mixes partial jobs with full ones. The Canada-wide guide was updated in August 2026 and splits kitchens by scope, so it is the clearer reference. Your quote comes from the contractor who sees the room.
03Who can do the electrical in a kitchen renovation?
In Ontario, anyone you hire for electrical work in your home must hold an ECRA/ESA electrical contractor licence. Almost all electrical work is reported to the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) with a notification of work, filed before the work begins. You can look up a contractor’s licence at findacontractor.esasafe.com.
04My house is heritage-designated. Does the no-permit list still apply?
The City’s list of projects that need no building permit says heritage-designated buildings and properties under a Heritage District Overlay are not exempt. Check with the City through 3-1-1 or buildingpermits@ottawa.ca before you book the work.
05Who does the work?
An independent local renovation company. 613 Pros passes your request to one company, and you agree the design, price and contract with them.