Who should I hire for an interior drain in Westboro?

For an interior drain system in Westboro, you are looking for a waterproofing contractor who can also bring in, or confirm they work with, a licensed plumber for the parts of the job that connect to your home's plumbing.

Here is why that matters. Plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario under O. Reg. 876/21. The province says you cannot engage someone to do compulsory trade work unless they are authorized to do it. An interior drain channel runs along the perimeter of your basement floor and ties into a sump pit, and the sump pump discharge goes to the storm sewer or out above grade. Ask whether a licensed plumber does or signs off the plumbing part of the installation, and ask the contractor to confirm that before you sign anything.

We found no Ontario or City of Ottawa licence, registration or certificate specific to waterproofing contractors. What you can check is the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register to confirm a plumber's authorization.

When you are comparing contractors, a written quote for this job should spell out:

• the wall length the drain channel covers and where it starts and stops
• whether a new sump pit is being constructed or an existing one is used, and the pump and battery backup details
• where the pump discharge goes and how it gets there
• who pulls any required permits

On the question of permits: the City of Ottawa lists sump pits and pumps as work requiring a building permit. Whether the drain channel itself counts as drain tile replacement under the permit list is not stated by the City, so ask the City's Building Code Services before the work starts.

Ask for the contractor's insurance details in writing. WSIB's clearance policy does not apply to a homeowner who lives in the house and directly hires a contractor for exempt home renovation work only; a rental or investment property is outside that exemption. You can still ask for a clearance.

Published 2025-26 Ontario contractor prices for an interior drain and sump system run about $70 to $150 per linear foot of wall, with some published pages ranging from $50 to $230. A new sump pit adds roughly $500 to $1,500 to that; a pump with battery backup runs about $2,000 to $4,000.

You can use the request form on this page to have local contractors from the Ottawa Construction Network directory reach out by email.

Before you commit, call the City's Building Code Services and ask them directly which permits apply to your specific scope.