Sump Pump Cost in Ottawa: Replacement, New Pit or Battery Backup
$500 to $1,200 to replace a pump in an existing pit
A new pit adds about $500 to $1,500; a pump with battery backup is about $2,000 to $4,000, in published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26. Each is its own line.
Pick the job you are getting quoted to see its published range. The lines are shown separately, as the price pages list them.
Last reviewed 2026-10-01. Published figures, not quotes; yours will differ.
Which job?
| Item | Published range |
|---|---|
| Replace a pump in an existing pit | $500 to $1,200 |
| Add a new pit (on top of the pump) | $500 to $1,500 |
| A pump with battery backup | $2,000 to $4,000 |
What the quote should say
- The pit: new or existing, and its size (at least 750 mm deep and 0.25 m², airtight child-resistant cover)
- The pump make and model, and whether battery backup is included
- Where it discharges (union and check valve, pumped above grade)
- Who pulls the building permit and arranges the City inspection
- Whether a licensed plumber does or signs off the plumbing part
Permits
The City of Ottawa says a building permit is required to install protective plumbing devices, which include a sump pit and pump; the plumbing-only fee is $117 per application on the 2026 schedule. Replacing a pump in an existing pit is not named on either of the City's lists, so ask the City.
City rebate
The City of Ottawa's Residential Protective Plumbing Program lists these maximums for this kind of work. They are shown on their own and are not taken off any price above.
| Item | City maximum |
|---|---|
| Sump pump with battery backup power, existing pit | $1,500 |
| Sump pump with battery backup power and a new pit | $3,000 |
| Building permit (plumbing work only) | 100 per cent of the current fee |
- The City rebates the lesser of the maximum or the cost of the work.
- The work must be complete and the application received within 18 months of the building permit's issue date (the City changed this from 12 months on July 1, 2026).
- Rebates are not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of existing protective plumbing devices, or for devices the City installed.
- The City lists the program as currently under review: check ottawa.ca before you rely on it (checked September 2026).
Waterproofing IQ answers on this job
- Cost of a new sump pit and pump in a Gloucester basement?
- Battery backup sump pump installed in Riverside South, what price range?
- Does Ottawa's sump rebate require the battery backup to qualify?
- How much does a City permit add to a sump pit job in Vanier?
- Does replacing a sump pump in an existing pit need a permit in Barrhaven?
Quick answers
Does the rebate cover a replacement pump?
The City says rebates are not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of existing protective plumbing devices, so ask the City whether your job qualifies before the work starts.
Is battery backup required for the rebate?
The City's table lists sump pumps with battery backup power; a pump without it is not on the list.
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