Question 1

Would a new wall oven count toward accessibility claims in Ottawa?

Accepted Answer

A wall oven is an appliance, and the Home Accessibility Tax Credit specifically excludes household appliances from eligible expenses. So a wall oven on its own would not count toward that credit. The question of whether any part of the project might qualify depends on what else is involved.

Question 2

Lowering kitchen counters in an Ottawa home: permit or not?

Accepted Answer

Lowering kitchen counters does not appear on the City of Ottawa's list of projects that require a permit, and replacing kitchen or bathroom cabinets where plumbing fixtures stay in the same location is explicitly listed as a project that does not need one. If the counters and cabinets are lowered without moving any plumbing, that exemption may cover the work; ask the City to confirm. Lowering a counter can also mean moving a sink drain or supply lines.

Question 3

Do lowered kitchen cabinets in an Ottawa home count as a medical expense?

Accepted Answer

Lowered kitchen cabinets may qualify as a medical expense under the CRA's medical expense tax credit, but the CRA sets conditions that determine whether a specific project qualifies. The CRA lists "lowering kitchen or bathroom cabinets" as one of its own examples of a renovation or construction expense that may qualify, where the work is for a person with a severe and prolonged mobility impairment and the expense would not normally be expected to increase the home's value.

Question 4

Will an Ottawa plumbing permit be needed to move my sink?

Accepted Answer

Moving a sink involves altering the plumbing system, and the City of Ottawa's permit list includes "alterations, additions or extensions to a plumbing system (except replacing existing fixtures)" as work that requires a plumbing permit. Moving a sink to a new spot is not a replacement in place, so the plumbing-alteration line is the one to ask about; confirm with Building Code Services.

Accessible Kitchens

Would a new wall oven count toward accessibility claims in Ottawa?

Lowering kitchen counters in an Ottawa home: permit or not?

Do lowered kitchen cabinets in an Ottawa home count as a medical expense?

Will an Ottawa plumbing permit be needed to move my sink?