Barrhaven, south-west Ottawa
Secondary suites in Barrhaven
Barrhaven's detached, semi-detached and townhouse homes are the types the City allows to host a secondary suite, and basement suites have no size limit. Near the Jock or Rideau rivers, adding a unit can also need Rideau Valley Conservation Authority approval.
Typical secondary suite in Barrhaven, with HST $104,900 to $140,700 $150 to $201 per sq ft for 700 sq ft
AI imageWhat secondary suites cost in Barrhaven
Typical project totals and the price per square foot, with HST, by type of job and finish level, priced for suburban Ottawa. Choose a row to open it in the estimator with Barrhaven prices.
| Typical size | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary suite700 sq ft | $85,500 to $114,700$122 to $164 per sq ft | $104,900 to $140,700$150 to $201 per sq ft | $133,900 to $179,600$191 to $257 per sq ft |
Prices are estimates based on published Ottawa and Ontario price guides, checked October 2026. They are not an offer. A firm written quote follows a site visit. Prices for Barrhaven include about 2% over central Ottawa for travel and delivery.
Homes in Barrhaven
What the local housing means for secondary suites.
Old Barrhaven was started in the 1960s by developer Mel Barr. Longfields was mostly built from the early 1990s, Stonebridge from 2000, and Barrhaven South and Half Moon Bay after 2006, on what the City described in 2006 as farmland.
- Homes in Longfields and the earlier parts of Stonebridge are roughly 20 to 35 years old, an age when original cabinets, counters, tubs and vanities are often replaced.
- Detached, semi-detached and townhouse homes are the types the City allows to host a secondary suite, which makes a basement suite worth considering.
- On townhouse streets with small yards, a rear deck is the main way to add outdoor space; additions are more realistic on detached lots.
Permits and approvals
What to check in Barrhaven before secondary suites work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Barrhaven sits between the Jock River and the Rideau River, both inside the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority's area. RVCA reports that about 16% of the Jock River-Barrhaven catchment lies inside its regulation limit, and it mapped flooding and slope hazards along the Rideau from Hogs Back to Kars in 2017. RVCA treats work inside the existing walls, roof and foundation that does not change the use as generally not needing its approval; enlarging the house, changing its use or adding a unit does.
Building permits
The City generally requires a building permit to finish a basement, move or remove walls, alter plumbing, add or enlarge windows and doors, and build an addition. Replacing kitchen cabinets without moving plumbing fixtures usually does not need one. Electrical work is inspected separately by the Electrical Safety Authority.
Secondary suites
A suite inside an existing house needs a building permit and has to meet the Building Code for ceiling height, exits, fire separation, windows and alarms, with electrical inspected separately. Basement suites have no size limit, the suite needs its own entrance (not a new door in the front wall), and new parking cannot go in the front yard. On lots with City water and sewer, current rules allow more than one additional unit on most residential lots, so we check what your lot can hold.
Zoning
Additions and larger decks have to meet the zoning setbacks, height and lot coverage for your lot. Most of Ottawa's new Zoning By-law 2026-50 is in force (the parts not under appeal took effect from March 2026), and where a provision is still under appeal the stricter of the old and new rules applies, so we check the rules for your address before design starts.
A sample quote
A typical Ottawa secondary suite, priced task by task. Open it, then change it to suit a house in Barrhaven.
Good to know
How much does a secondary suite cost in Barrhaven?
A mid-range secondary suite of about 700 sq ft typically comes to $104,900 to $140,700 with HST, based on published Ottawa and Ontario price guides checked October 2026. With basic finishes the same job is about $85,500 to $114,700; with premium finishes, about $133,900 to $179,600. Size, the state of the house and what you add all move the number, so use the estimator for your own project. A firm quote follows a site visit.
Can I add a suite to my Barrhaven townhouse?
Townhouses are one of the types the City allows to host a secondary suite. The basement has to meet the Building Code for ceiling height, exits, fire separation and windows, and the suite needs its own entrance. We look at the space with you to see what it would take.
Does being near the Jock River change anything?
If your lot is inside the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority's regulated area, enlarging the house, changing its use or adding a unit needs RVCA approval. Interior work inside the existing walls and foundation generally does not. We check the mapping for your address.
Do you work in all of Barrhaven?
Yes, from Old Barrhaven to Longfields, Stonebridge, Half Moon Bay and the newer streets near Cambrian Road. Barrhaven addresses are priced at suburban rates in the estimator.
Planning a secondary suite in Barrhaven?
Price it in the estimator with Barrhaven rates, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.