Should a doorway widening quote in Ottawa mention the permit?

Yes, the permit belongs in the quote. The City of Ottawa lists "enlarging or relocating a window or door" as a project that requires a building permit, and a doorway in a load-bearing wall is also a structural alteration, which is on the same list.

What the permit means for this job

The permit fee the City charges for alterations is $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, with a minimum of $117. Construction value includes materials, labour, overhead and professional fees, so the fee is calculated on the full project cost, not just materials. A contractor who leaves the permit out of a quote is either expecting you to pull it yourself or has not priced the full scope.

The quote should also cover what happens after the door frame comes out. Widening a doorway in a non-load-bearing wall runs about $500 to $2,500 per door based on published 2025-26 prices; a load-bearing wall costs more, and patching and finishing the surrounding drywall, trim and flooring on both sides of the opening adds to that figure. Ask the contractor whether the wall is load-bearing, because that changes what the structural work involves, and ask whether patching and finishing are included or priced separately.

A few things to confirm in writing before work starts:

• Whether the permit application is included and who files it.
• Whether the wall is load-bearing and what the structural work involves.
• Whether patching, priming, trim and any floor repair on both sides of the opening are in scope.
• The start date and the date by which the work will be complete.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if a contractor gives you an estimate, they cannot charge more than 10 per cent over it. A direct agreement made somewhere other than the contractor's place of business, such as your home, must be in writing and delivered to you; you then have 10 days to cancel without any reason.

The owner and the builder are both responsible under the Building Code Act for making sure a permit is obtained when one is required, so do not assume the contractor has handled it.

When two written quotes arrive, set them side by side and check what each one includes for the permit, the structural work, patching and finishing on both faces of the wall, and the dates for start and completion, because a lower number that leaves those items out may not be the lower price once the job is done.