Disposal on a deck tear-out quote in Ottawa: what to look for?

When reviewing a tear-out quote in Ottawa, the first thing to check is whether disposal is included at all, and if so, what it covers. Some published packages name a price for removal without specifying where the material goes or who pays the tipping fee.

The City of Ottawa is clear that wood from a deck tear-out, including pressure-treated lumber, is construction and demolition waste. It is not collected with regular garbage. The City says it must be brought to the Trail Road Landfill Site or another landfill. A quote that says "haul away included" but does not name a disposal site leaves open whether the builder will charge you separately once the truck is loaded.

A few things worth confirming in writing before the work starts:

• Does the price include the full load, or only a single truck run? A larger deck can fill more than one load.
• Who pays if the landfill charges a gate fee above what the builder estimated?
• Are there any materials the builder plans to keep, sell or reuse, and does that affect your price?
• If a hot tub, concrete footing pads or metal hardware are on the deck, are those covered under the same disposal line, or priced separately?

On the permit side, a replacement deck is treated as a new deck for permit purposes. The City of Ottawa's permit rules apply to the new structure, and the drawings must show the foundation, framing, guards and stairs. If the new deck's walking surface will be more than 600 mm (24 in.) above adjacent grade and it is attached to or adjacent to the house, a building permit is required. The builder or the homeowner applies through the My ServiceOttawa portal, and three inspections are required: excavation or foundations, framing, and final. The homeowner or the builder books them at least 48 hours in advance.

On zoning, both Zoning By-law 2008-250 and Zoning By-law 2026-50 apply to permit applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, with the most restrictive provisions from both applying. Setbacks and yard projections depend on the deck's height, location and lot dimensions. Confirm the rules for your specific lot with the City of Ottawa's Building Code Services before the new structure is designed.

If the quote bundles removal and new construction together, ask the builder to break out the disposal cost as its own line so you can see exactly what is and is not covered.

The most useful question to put to any builder before signing is: which line items in this quote could change once the work is underway, and what would trigger that change?