Orléans, east Ottawa
Basement renovations in Orléans
Split-level and two-storey homes in Orléans tend to have different basements: often partial lower levels in the split-levels and full basements in the two-storeys. Moisture, ceiling height and the furnace and panel location decide the layout before finishes are chosen.
Typical basement renovation in Orléans, with HST $60,900 to $81,600 $76 to $102 per sq ft for 800 sq ft
AI imageWhat basements cost in Orléans
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 Orléans prices.
| Typical size | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement renovation800 sq ft | $46,200 to $61,900$58 to $77 per sq ft | $60,900 to $81,600$76 to $102 per sq ft | $88,000 to $118,000$110 to $148 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 Orléans include about 2% over central Ottawa for travel and delivery.
Homes in Orléans
What the local housing means for basements.
Queenswood Heights, Convent Glen and Orléans Wood came first, from the late 1960s and the 1970s, with ranch-style and split-level homes on comparatively large lots. Fallingbrook (started in 1985) and Chapel Hill followed in the 1980s and 1990s, mostly two-storey detached homes with brick fronts. Avalon, Notting Gate and Cardinal Creek are from the late 1990s and 2000s onward.
- Kitchens and bathrooms in Queenswood Heights, Convent Glen and Orléans Wood are often due for a full redo.
- Fallingbrook and Chapel Hill homes are at the age when builder-grade kitchens and bathrooms get replaced.
- The larger lots of the earliest neighbourhoods leave room for rear additions and bigger decks.
Permits and approvals
What to check in Orléans before basements work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Bilberry Creek and the other east-end creeks are in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority's area. RVCA recorded an erosion event on Bilberry Creek in 2017 that temporarily displaced three households, and its ravines, slopes and floodplains are regulated. Some land on the south-east fringe may fall under South Nation Conservation instead, so the authority depends on the address. 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 and Cumberland urban areas. 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.
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.
A sample quote
A typical Ottawa basement renovation, priced task by task. Open it, then change it to suit a house in Orléans.
Good to know
How much does a basement renovation cost in Orléans?
A mid-range basement renovation of about 800 sq ft typically comes to $60,900 to $81,600 with HST, based on published Ottawa and Ontario price guides checked October 2026. With basic finishes the same job is about $46,200 to $61,900; with premium finishes, about $88,000 to $118,000. 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.
My Orléans house already has a basement apartment. Is it legal?
Secondary units were allowed in the former Gloucester and Cumberland's urban area before 2005, and the City says units from that period must meet the Building Code and Fire Code. We can look at the unit and suggest what work may be needed; the City's permit and inspections decide whether it meets the codes.
Which parts of Orléans do you cover?
All of it, including Queenswood Heights, Convent Glen, Orléans Wood, Fallingbrook, Chapel Hill, Avalon, Notting Gate and Cardinal Creek.
Planning a basement renovation in Orléans?
Price it in the estimator with Orléans rates, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.