Gloucester, east Ottawa
Secondary suites in Gloucester
The City allows a suite inside an existing house with a building permit and the Building Code requirements for height, exits, fire separation and windows. Suites were already permitted in the former Gloucester before 2005, so some homes have older units that need upgrading rather than starting from scratch.
Typical secondary suite in Gloucester, with HST $102,900 to $138,000 $147 to $197 per sq ft for 700 sq ft
AI imageWhat secondary suites cost in Gloucester
Typical project totals and the price per square foot, with HST, by type of job and finish level, priced for central Ottawa. Choose a row to open it in the estimator with Gloucester prices.
| Typical size | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary suite700 sq ft | $83,800 to $112,400$120 to $161 per sq ft | $102,900 to $138,000$147 to $197 per sq ft | $131,500 to $176,400$188 to $252 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.
Homes in Gloucester
What the local housing means for secondary suites.
Blossom Park's first lots were sold from 1947, and its 1950s core is mostly bungalows on lots of about 150 by 100 feet. Blackburn Hamlet, a planned community surrounded by Greenbelt land, had its first residents in 1967, and most of its homes date from the 1960s and 1970s. Beacon Hill was built in the 1960s and 1970s and Carson Grove in the early 1970s.
- Kitchens and bathrooms in Blackburn Hamlet, Beacon Hill and Carson Grove are often due for a full redo.
- Blossom Park's large bungalow lots leave room for rear additions.
- Basement suites, and bringing older suites up to code, are worth asking about.
Permits and approvals
What to check in Gloucester before secondary suites work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Green's Creek and the other east-end creeks are in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority's area, and their valleys, slopes and floodplains are regulated. 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.
Older secondary suites
Secondary units were permitted before 2005 in the former Gloucester. The City says units from that period must meet the Building Code and Fire Code, so an older suite may need work to bring it up to standard.
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. Houses of this age often have plaster, older wiring or materials that need testing before they come out; the estimator's older-house allowance is a cushion for that.
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 Gloucester.
Good to know
How much does a secondary suite cost in Gloucester?
A mid-range secondary suite of about 700 sq ft typically comes to $102,900 to $138,000 with HST, based on published Ottawa and Ontario price guides checked October 2026. With basic finishes the same job is about $83,800 to $112,400; with premium finishes, about $131,500 to $176,400. 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.
Why does the estimator price Gloucester at central Ottawa rates?
Blackburn Hamlet, Beacon Hill, Carson Grove and Blossom Park are inside or surrounded by the Greenbelt, so travel and delivery cost the same as for central Ottawa.
Planning a secondary suite in Gloucester?
Price it in the estimator with Gloucester rates, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.