Demolition · Ottawa
House demolition in Ottawa, planned from the paperwork up
Taking a house down takes a day or two. Getting to that day takes weeks of permits, disconnects and surveys. We map the whole sequence with you at the start so the demolition date is real and the lot is ready for your builder.
- The promise Ready for the next trade Debris hauled away, site cleared for the next crew.
- Demolition quotes Book a site visit We walk the job with you, then price it in writing.
- Junk removal Text us photos Send a few pictures, get a price back.
- Service area Ottawa & area Kanata to Orléans, Barrhaven to Vanier. Outside Ottawa? Ask us.
Who it’s for
Who calls us for this
- Owners replacing an older home with a new build
- Infill builders and developers who need a cleared lot on schedule
- Estates and investors with a house that is beyond renovation
- Owners of fire-damaged houses after the insurance claim is settled
Quoted on site
Every demolition job is priced in person. We walk the space with you, check access and the age of the building, then send a written quote.
Book a site visitScope
What’s included
- Readiness review at the site visit: permit, utilities, survey and access, with realistic lead times
- Checklist of the clearance letters the City asks for with the demolition permit application
- Coordination with your survey, abatement and utility contacts so dates line up
- Ontario One Call locate request before any ground work
- Demolition of the house and attached structures, with sorting for recycling
- Foundation removal and backfill to the scope in your quote
- Lot raked and left clean, with the road and sidewalk swept
Not included
- Asbestos or designated-substance abatement. Done by a licensed contractor before demolition
- Utility disconnects themselves. The owner requests these from Enbridge, Hydro Ottawa and the City; we help you with what to ask for
- Tree removal (our sister company ZZ Chop Tree Care can handle it in the same schedule)
Ottawa notes
The Ottawa house demolition timeline
Enbridge gas disconnects take roughly 44 days from payment. This is almost always the longest item, so request it first.
Hydro Ottawa asks for the electrical service request three to four weeks ahead. The City handles water and sewer capping, and a sewer disconnection fee may apply.
The City of Ottawa demolition permit fee (2026 schedule) starts at $117 for the first 5,000 sq ft of floor area. Properties under the Demolition Control By-law pay $1,170, and heritage-designated properties pay $3,510. Starting work without a permit carries a 50% surcharge.
A house built before 1990 needs a designated-substances survey, and any asbestos removed by a licensed contractor, before demolition.
Plan on six to eight weeks from your first call to demolition day. The machine work itself is usually one to three days.
How it works
Site visit in. Debris out.
Most of the risk in demolition is in the planning: missed disconnects, surprise asbestos, a bin with nowhere to go. We sort that out before anyone swings a bar.
- 01
Book a site visit
Call, text or use the form. We set a time to walk the job with you and look at what is coming out, the access and the age of the building.
- 02
Get a written quote
Scope, exclusions, price and any conditions, like a clean designated-substances survey, all in writing.
- 03
We line it up
Permits, utility disconnects, surveys and dates. We give you the checklist, track the lead times and confirm the day.
- 04
Down and hauled
Protection goes down, the work gets done, debris goes to licensed sorting and recycling, and the site is left ready for the next trade.
Asbestos & permits
We don’t touch asbestos. That’s the point.
Some demolition companies will tell you they do it all. We do the demolition, and we make sure the steps before it happen in the right order, by the right people: survey first, licensed abatement, then us.
Read the asbestos and permit FAQ- Built before 1990? Ontario law puts the onus on the owner to identify designated substances before a contract is signed. That means a designated-substances survey.
- Survey finds asbestos? A licensed abatement contractor removes it, and you get a clearance letter.
- Utilities and permit. Gas, hydro, water and sewer disconnected where needed. Enbridge alone takes about 44 days, so it gets requested first.
- Then we demolish. No change orders for surprise asbestos, no stop-work orders, no crew exposed.
FAQ
House Demolition: common questions
How long does it take to demolish a house in Ottawa?
The demolition itself is usually one to three days. The paperwork is what takes time: plan six to eight weeks from start to finish, mostly because the Enbridge gas disconnect takes about 44 days from payment.
Do I need a permit to demolish a house in Ottawa?
Yes. A City of Ottawa demolition permit is required, and the application asks for utility clearances. The base fee is $117 for most houses (2026 fee schedule), higher if the property is under Demolition Control or heritage designation.
Who arranges the utility disconnects?
The property owner requests them, because the utilities deal with the account holder. We give you the list, the phone numbers and the order to call them in, and we track the dates with you.
Do you remove the foundation?
If your quote includes it, yes: foundation walls and footings removed, and the hole backfilled and graded to the level your builder asks for. Some builders want the hole left open; we quote to your plan.
What happens to the debris?
Mixed construction and demolition waste goes to licensed sorting facilities. Metal goes to scrap recycling and clean concrete and brick go to clean-fill recycling. Weigh tickets are available on request.
Can you quote before the asbestos survey is done?
Yes, with a condition: the quote assumes a clean survey or completed abatement. If abatement is needed, it happens first, and the demolition date moves to after the clearance letter.
Related
Often booked together
Garage, Shed & Deck Removal
Rotten sheds, detached garages and old decks torn down, hauled away and the ground raked.
Concrete & Asphalt Removal
Slabs, steps, patios, walkways and driveways broken out and hauled to clean-fill recycling.
Full Interior Gut
Whole houses and floors taken down to studs and joists for a full renovation, fire or flood rebuild.
Request a quote
Ready when you are. Let’s get it out.
Demolition is quoted on site: book a visit and we walk the job with you. Junk removal? Text us a few photos and we send a price back.