Every residential job is scoped to the property, but most teardowns and partial demolitions include the same core pieces of work.
Complete single-family home demolition, or a partial teardown when only part of a structure needs to come down.
Detached and attached garages, backyard sheds, and decks removed as part of the same project or on their own.
We walk you through what Ottawa requires for your specific property before the first wall comes down.
Demolition debris is hauled off-site and recycled or diverted where possible, so you are not left with a pile of material.
Residential demolition looks simple from the street. What separates a clean job from a spring-time headache is what happens below grade and around the neighbourhood.
Ottawa's minimum footing depth is 1,800 mm below finished grade. Any backfill left after a foundation, slab, or in-ground removal has to be graded with that depth in mind, or you risk heaving and drainage problems the following spring.
Ottawa's demolition rules are not one-size-fits-all. A standard building permit applies in the general case, and older properties inside the mapped Area of Demolition Control may also require a separate Demolition Control approval. We help you figure out which applies to your address before we start.
Ottawa's January design temperature runs around -25 degrees Celsius. Frozen ground, site access, and dust and debris control all get planned for differently in winter than in summer, and we build that into the schedule.
Before demolition starts, gas and hydro service to the structure needs to be safely disconnected. We coordinate that step so it does not become the thing that delays your project.
Not every residential project is a whole-house teardown. We handle the full range: a single detached garage that has to come down before a new build starts, a deck and shed cleared out for a backyard renovation, or a full structural demolition to clear a lot for a new home. Whatever the scope, the process starts the same way, with a site visit and a written quote that spells out exactly what is included, so there are no surprises once work begins.
We walk the property with you, confirm the scope, and flag anything that affects permitting, access, or cost.
We help you understand what Ottawa requires for your address and coordinate gas and hydro disconnection before demolition begins.
The structure comes down and debris is hauled off-site and recycled or diverted where possible.
The lot is graded and backfilled with Ottawa's frost depth in mind, then handed back to you ready for what's next.
Whole-house demolition typically runs $4 to $10 per square foot, including disposal and basic site grading. Actual pricing depends on square footage, site access, foundation type, and what has to be disconnected first. These are general ranges to help you budget, not a quote for your specific property.
$3,200 – $10,000
$6,000 – $20,000
$10,000 – $30,000
Whether you are clearing a lot for a new build, taking down a garage before a renovation, or planning a full house teardown, residential demolition in Ottawa comes with a few local details that matter: the right permit path for your property, a plan for winter site conditions, and a backfill that respects the city's frost depth. Demolition Pros Ottawa scopes every residential project on-site and puts the full plan in writing before anything comes down.
In most cases, yes. A building permit is generally required to demolish or relocate a structure in Ottawa, and some smaller accessory structures may be exempt, so it is worth confirming for your specific property. If the property sits inside the mapped Area of Demolition Control, has no building permit yet issued for a replacement structure, and the demolition removes a residential unit, a separate Demolition Control approval is also required, currently a $1,206.84 application fee. We help you figure out which layer applies before we start.
It depends on the size of the structure, foundation type, site access, and the time of year. A detached garage or shed can often be cleared in a day, while a full house teardown takes longer once permitting, utility disconnects, and debris hauling are factored in. We give you a realistic timeline as part of your written quote rather than a generic promise.
Once the structure and debris are removed, the site is graded and backfilled. In Ottawa that means accounting for a minimum footing depth of 1,800 mm, since a shallow or rushed backfill is what causes heaving and drainage problems the following spring. You are left with a level, cleared lot.
We haul all demolition debris off-site and recycle or divert material where possible rather than sending everything straight to landfill. Exact diversion depends on the material mix of your specific project.
Older homes are more likely to contain asbestos in materials like insulation, flooring, or ceiling texture, so a hazardous materials or designated substances survey is worth doing before demolition starts on an older property. If asbestos is found, it needs to be professionally abated before the rest of the demolition proceeds. Ask us about this during your on-site assessment.
Yes. Garage, shed, and deck removal is often bundled into the same project as a house teardown, or handled on its own if that is all you need. We price it as part of the same written quote so you see one clear number.
We haul and dispose of demolition debris as part of the project. If there is a significant amount of household junk or belongings still inside the structure, let us know during your quote so it can be accounted for in the scope.