Is my Barrhaven house too new for the storm backwater valve rebate?

The City's storm backwater valve rebate is available only for residential properties built before January 1, 2004. If your Barrhaven home was built on or after that date, it does not qualify for that particular rebate.

The sanitary backwater valve rebate has a later cut-off: the property must have been built before January 1, 2012. So if your home falls between those two dates, you may still qualify for the sanitary rebate even though the storm rebate is off the table.

A few other eligibility points worth knowing before you apply. The rebate covers the lesser of the City's 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 moved this from 12 months on July 1, 2026). The device cannot have been installed by the City, and rebates are not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of an existing protective plumbing device. The City also lists the program as currently under review, so check ottawa.ca before making any decisions based on it.

If you do qualify, the City's maximum for a storm backwater valve is $2,500 for an outdoor installation, or $1,000 for an indoor one. The sanitary backwater valve maximum is $1,000. A building permit is required before the work starts, and you book the City inspection once the work is done.

If you are not sure of your home's build year, ask the City before you apply.

To reach local Ottawa waterproofing contractors listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory, use the form on this page.