What should I budget for a cedar deck in Kanata?

For a cedar deck, budget from the published range: Ottawa and Ontario builder prices run about $45 to $80 per square foot installed, read in September 2026. That range is wide, and some published packages exclude railings and steps, so your actual quote may sit above or below it depending on what is included.

Several things move a cedar quote within or outside that range. Height above grade matters: a deck whose walking surface is more than 600 mm (24 in.) above the adjacent grade, and is attached to or adjacent to the house, requires a building permit from the City of Ottawa, which adds a permit fee and the cost of drawings. The City's permit fee is $12.75 per $1,000 of assessed value (materials, labour, overhead and professional fees combined), with a minimum of $117.00. Published prices for permit drawings from three drafting and design firms run about $399 to $2,500 per set. Size, number of levels, stair configuration, the type of guard or railing, and whether an old deck needs to come down all shift the total as well.

On the structure side, the 2024 Ontario Building Code requires a guard on any side where the drop is more than 600 mm within 1.2 m of the edge. Exterior guards on a single dwelling unit may be 900 mm high where the walking surface is not more than 1 800 mm above finished ground, and 1 070 mm in all other cases. The Code's no-climb rule applies to every required guard in Ontario: no member, attachment or opening between 140 mm and 900 mm above the walking surface may facilitate climbing. In clay or soils not clearly defined, the Code's footing table sets 1.2 m but not less than the depth of frost penetration, unless the deck meets all five conditions of the floating-deck exemption: not more than one storey, not more than 55 square metres, not more than 600 mm from finished ground to the underside of the joists, not supporting a roof, and not attached to another structure unless it can be demonstrated that differential movement will not adversely affect that structure. If the soil on your lot turns out to be sensitive clay (including Leda clay), the Code requires an engineered footing design: a builder or engineer can tell you whether that applies to your lot.

Zoning is a separate check. Both Zoning By-law 2008-250 and Zoning By-law 2026-50 apply to permit applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, and the most restrictive provisions of the two govern. Setbacks from lot lines, yard projections and soft-landscaping requirements all depend on your specific lot and zone. Confirm the current rules with the City of Ottawa's Building Code Services before finalising the design.

When you get quotes, ask each builder to spell out what is included: the foundation type and depth, guard height and infill design, stair rise and run, removal of any existing structure, permit drawings, and who applies for the permit and books the three required City inspections (excavation or foundations, framing, and final). Ask too what finish they recommend and how often it will need refreshing.

If your deck will require any digging for footings, request a locate through Ontario One Call at least five business days before work starts: it is free and required by law.

Before you sign, ask each builder to show you the line items for foundation, framing, decking, guards and stairs separately, so you can compare quotes that may otherwise look similar but cover very different scopes.