Who is responsible for getting the permit on an Ottawa renovation?

Under the Ontario Building Code Act, both the owner and the builder are equally liable when a required permit is not obtained. The City of Ottawa's own FAQ states this clearly: responsibility sits with both parties, not just the contractor.

Whoever applies, the legal obligation does not shift to the contractor alone. If a contractor tells you a permit is not needed and you later find out one was required, you share that liability. Before work starts, confirm in writing who is applying for the permit and ask to see the permit number once it is issued.

What this means for your project

The permit fee for alterations in Ottawa is $12.75 per $1,000 of construction value, with a minimum of $117 (City fee schedule, January 1, 2026). Construction value includes materials, labour, overhead and any professional fees, so the fee is based on the full project cost, not just materials.

If you are doing any of the work yourself, the same rule applies: you are the owner and the builder, and the permit obligation is yours. For a do-it-yourself project, materials, equipment rentals, building plans and permit fees may be eligible expenses under the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit, but your own labour and tools are not.

If funding is part of your plan, note that Ontario Renovates says repairs performed before loan or grant approval are not eligible, and the March of Dimes program will not repay costs before it authorizes the work, so line up those approvals as well as the permit before construction starts.

Before work starts, ask the contractor to confirm in writing who will apply for the permit and to share the permit number once it is issued.