Village, rural south-east Ottawa
Home renovations in Greely
Greely, in Osgoode Township until 2001, grew faster than any other rural village in Ottawa over the 30 years before 2004. It has no traditional main street: it is a set of subdivisions of detached homes on large lots, nearly all on private wells and septic systems.
Homes in Greely
The population rose from about 4,100 in 2004 to about 5,430 by the end of 2010, with the City issuing an average of 81 building permits a year from 2001 to 2010. Almost all homes are single-detached, and most lots are between half an acre and two acres.
Much of the housing dates from the 1980s to the 2000s, so many kitchens, bathrooms and basements are 20 to 45 years old.
What tends to come up
- Because nearly every lot is on a well and septic system, a secondary suite is limited to one additional unit, and new bedrooms or bathrooms start with a septic check.
- Large lots leave room for additions, decks and porches, placed around the well and the septic bed.
- Homes near Shields Creek, the Osgoode Marsh or other wetlands can sit inside a conservation authority's regulated area.
- Many homes are at the age for kitchen, bathroom and basement updates.
What we build in Greely
Typical totals with HST for a mid-range job of each kind at a Greely address. Each page covers what matters for that work here.
- Kitchens in Greely$45,900 to $61,600$306 to $411 per sq ftkitchen renovation, 150 sq ft, mid-range
- Bathrooms in Greely$21,200 to $28,500$530 to $713 per sq ftthree-piece bathroom, 40 sq ft, mid-range
- Basements in Greely$62,700 to $84,200$78 to $105 per sq ftbasement renovation, 800 sq ft, mid-range
- Additions in Greely$125,800 to $168,700$315 to $422 per sq ftrear or side addition, one storey, 400 sq ft, mid-range
- Decks and porches in Greely$21,900 to $28,700$91 to $120 per sq ftraised deck, 240 sq ft, cedar
- Secondary suites in Greely$107,800 to $144,500$154 to $206 per sq ftsecondary suite, 700 sq ft, mid-range
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 Greely include about 5% over central Ottawa for travel and delivery.
Permits and approvals in Greely
What to check before work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address and your project.
Conservation authority
South Nation Conservation describes Shields Creek as lying within Greely, in a subwatershed that drains to the South Nation River, so it is likely the authority for most of the village; we check both authorities' mapping by address. SNC permits are needed for development in floodplains, on unstable slopes, in wetlands and within 30 m of a wetland. The 2012 community design plan sets a 30 m setback on each side of Shields Creek and protects the Osgoode Marsh; we confirm whether it applies to a given lot.
Secondary suites on a well and septic system
Greely lots on a private well and septic system can have one additional unit, and the City asks owners to confirm with the Ottawa Septic System Office that the septic system can carry the extra load. Adding bedrooms or bathrooms elsewhere in the house can raise the same question, so the septic check comes before design.
Septic systems
The Ottawa Septic System Office administers the Building Code rules for septic systems in Ottawa: it reviews designs, issues permits for new and replacement systems and inspects them. An addition, a new bathroom or extra bedrooms can mean confirming the existing system's capacity, so we check it before design.
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.
Decks and porches
An attached deck needs a building permit when its surface is more than 600 mm (about 24 inches) above the ground, or when it is the main way into the house. A freestanding deck needs one when it is larger than 10 square metres (about 108 sq ft) and more than 600 mm up. Porches generally need a permit when they are larger than 10 square metres.
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.
Questions from Greely
Why are Greely prices higher in the estimator?
Greely is priced at rural rates, about 5% over central Ottawa, mostly for travel and delivery. Septic upgrades and approvals are extra and depend on the lot.
Where these local facts come from
- documents.ottawa.ca: village greely op sec plan en
- documents.ottawa.ca: greely cdp fr
- ottawa.ca: wardboundary
- ottawa.ca: ward maps and school board zones
- webcast.ottawa.ca: All Image Referencing Subdivision Image Reference 2024 03 08 Applica
- documents.ottawa.ca: rural res land 2015 16 en
- documents.ottawa.ca: rural res land survey 2022 24 en
- ottawa.ca: do i need building permit
Checked October 2026. Rules change: we confirm what applies to your address.
Nearby areas
Planning a renovation in Greely?
Use the estimator with Greely prices, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.