How much does a City permit add to a sump pit job in Vanier?

The City of Ottawa's 2026 fee schedule sets the building permit fee for plumbing work at $117 per application. The City's Residential Protective Plumbing Program lists 100 per cent of the plumbing permit fee among its rebates.

The bigger cost is the sump pit and pump. Published Ontario contractor pricing puts a new pit at about $500 to $1,500 on top of the pump; replacing a pump in an existing pit is about $500 to $1,200, and a pump with battery backup about $2,000 to $4,000. The RPPP offers up to $3,000 toward a primary or secondary sump pump with battery backup where a new pit is also constructed, or up to $1,500 where the pit already exists. The City rebates the lesser of those maximums or the actual cost of the work. Two conditions attach to every rebate: the work must be complete and the application received within 18 months of the 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 any figure here.

On process, the City requires a building permit before the work starts, with floor plans showing the pit's location, type, make and model of the devices. Ask whether a licensed plumber does or signs off the plumbing part of the installation. Once the work is complete, the City's steps include the building permit inspection, and that inspection report is part of the rebate application.

A fair quote for this job should spell out: whether a new pit is being dug or an existing one used, the pump make and model, whether battery backup is included, and who pulls the permit and arranges the City inspection.

Get written confirmation of which specific devices and installation costs they are pricing, so you can match the quote line by line against what the RPPP will and will not cover.