Sump Pumps & Battery Backup
New sump pits, pump replacement and battery backup pumps, with the City permit and the protective plumbing rebate in view.
Pump replacement in an existing pit about $500–$1,200; a new pit adds about $500–$1,500; with battery backup about $2,000–$4,000 (published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26; yours will differ).
Find a Waterproofing ContractorAbout Sump Pumps & Battery Backup
A sump pit collects the water that foundation drains bring to it, and the pump lifts it out of the house. The Building Code requires an automatic sump pump where gravity drainage is not practical (O. Reg. 163/24, 9.14.5.2), and a pit at least 750 mm deep and 0.25 m² in area with an airtight, child-resistant cover.
The City says a building permit is required for installing protective plumbing devices, which include a sump pit and pump. The City's protective plumbing FAQ names the owner as responsible for maintaining the device to the manufacturer's directions. Ontario advises testing sump pumps and installing a backup power system such as a battery backup. The City says its rebates are not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of existing devices.
City rebate (Residential Protective Plumbing Program): a sump pump with battery backup in an existing pit, up to $1,500; with a new pit, up to $3,000; plus 100 per cent of the plumbing permit fee. The City rebates the lesser of the maximum or the cost, within 18 months of the permit's issue date, and lists the program as currently under review: check ottawa.ca before you rely on it (checked September 2026).
Published Ontario prices: replacing a pump in an existing pit about $500 to $1,200; a new pit adds about $500 to $1,500; a pump with battery backup about $2,000 to $4,000.
What This Work Covers
- Pit at least 750 mm deep and 0.25 m², airtight child-resistant cover
- Discharge with union and check valve, above grade
- Battery backup pump option
- Building permit for a new installation
- Rebate paperwork: permit, inspection report, paid itemized invoice
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What this work costs
Common questions about sump pumps & battery backup
- Does the City of Ottawa require a sealed sump lid?
- Is a permit required to add a second sump pit in Orleans?
- How much does a City permit add to a sump pit job in Vanier?
- Cost of a new sump pit and pump in a Gloucester basement?
- Battery backup sump pump installed in Riverside South, what price range?
- Does the 18-month rule start from the permit in Ottawa's rebate program?
- Price per foot for an interior drain and sump system in Orleans?
- Does Ottawa's sump rebate require the battery backup to qualify?
Other Waterproofing Services
Exterior Foundation Waterproofing
Digging down the outside of the foundation to the footing and putting a membrane or coating on the wall, with new drain tile at the bottom where it is replaced.
Interior Drainage & Sump Systems
A drain channel cut in along the inside of the basement floor that carries seepage to a sump pit and pump, without digging outside.
Weeping Tile Replacement
Replacing the drain pipe at the base of the foundation that collects groundwater, laid to the Building Code's size and stone rules.
Foundation Crack Injection
Sealing a leaking crack in a poured concrete foundation from the inside by injecting it, priced per crack.
Backwater Valves
A normally open valve on the sanitary or storm drain that closes when the sewer backs up, installed under a City permit as part of a flood plan.
Window Wells
New or replacement basement window wells, drained to the footing as the Building Code requires.
Structural Foundation Repair
Repairs to a foundation wall or footing that carries load, which the City lists as building permit work.
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Tell us about your sump pumps & battery backup job and we'll send it to local waterproofing contractors in Ottawa. They reply by email.