Cost of a new sump pit and pump in a Gloucester basement?

A pump with battery backup is about $2,000 to $4,000 and a new pit adds about $500 to $1,500, in published 2025–26 Ontario contractor pricing.

Ask what the quote assumes about what is finished on the floor, where the discharge line runs, and whether battery backup is included. The permit is a separate cost; the City of Ottawa requires a building permit to install a sump pit and pump as protective plumbing, and on the 2026 fee schedule a plumbing-only permit is $117 per application.

The City's Residential Protective Plumbing Program offers a rebate of up to $3,000 for a primary or secondary sump pump with battery backup power where a new sump pit is also constructed. The City rebates the lesser of that maximum or the actual cost of the work, the work must be complete and the rebate application received within 18 months of the building permit's issue date (the City changed this from 12 months on July 1, 2026), and the City lists the program as currently under review, so check ottawa.ca before relying on it. The rebate is not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of an existing device, so ask the City whether your specific job qualifies.

A few things worth confirming in writing before any work starts:

• the scope: pit dimensions (Ontario's Building Code requires at least 750 mm deep and at least 0.25 m² in area, with a cover that resists removal by children and is airtight), pump model, and whether battery backup is included
• where the discharge line goes and whether a check valve and union are included, as the Code requires both
• who pulls the building permit and who requests the City inspection when the work is done
• whether a licensed plumber does or signs off the plumbing portion of the job

The form on this page can forward your details to contractors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory.

Before you commit to a quote, ask the contractor to confirm in writing exactly where the discharge line will terminate and how that connects to your existing storm or drainage system.