Do you need a permit for your Ottawa bathroom remodel? A plain-English checklist

Short answer: it depends on what you're actually changing. A cosmetic refresh — new vanity, new tile, new paint, same plumbing layout — usually doesn't need a building permit in Ottawa. The moment you move drains, add a fixture, change the framing, or touch the electrical panel, that changes.

The three scenarios we see every week

1. Refresh in place — usually no permit

Same toilet location, same shower footprint, same vanity. New finishes only. The City of Ottawa generally treats this as maintenance. You still want a licensed installer for the waterproofing and a licensed electrician if you're adding a heated floor, but the City isn't issuing a building permit for it.

2. Moving a fixture — building permit required

Relocating the toilet, swapping a tub for a curbless shower, or adding a second sink means changes to drain, vent, and supply lines. That's a building permit, and the work needs to be inspected. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise — inspections protect you.

3. Structural or layout changes — building + electrical permits

Knocking out a wall to combine an ensuite with a closet, or running a new circuit for in-floor heat and a heated towel bar, triggers both a building permit and an electrical permit through the Electrical Safety Authority.

How we handle it on every job

1. We tell you on the consult whether your scope needs a permit — before you sign anything.
2. If it does, the permit cost is in your fixed-price quote, not a surprise later.
3. We pull the permit in our name and meet the inspector on site.
4. You get the closed permit and inspection record at the final walkthrough.

What to do next

Read the City of Ottawa's own permit guidance below, then book a free in-home consult. We'll walk your space, sketch the scope, and tell you straight up whether you need a permit — even if you don't end up hiring us.