Suburb, south Ottawa
Home renovations in Riverside South
Riverside South was mostly farmland until the 1990s. The first homes were built in 1996, about 4,850 were already up in its north-west quadrant by 2009, and new phases east of Limebank Road have been planned since about 2018.
Homes in Riverside South
The community was built by a small number of developers, among them Urbandale, Richcraft and Claridge, first under a 1992 Gloucester plan and then under City plans from 2005. The 2009 plan aimed for a mix of about 42% singles and semis, 37.5% townhouses and the rest stacked townhouses and apartments. Honey Gables, three streets on the west side of River Road, dates from about 1950.
The earliest homes are now 25 to 30 years old, with first-generation builder-grade kitchens and bathrooms, and many basements may still be unfinished.
What tends to come up
- Kitchens and bathrooms from the late 1990s and 2000s are reaching the age when cabinets, counters, tubs and vanities get replaced.
- Singles, semis and townhouses are the types the City allows to host a secondary suite, so basement suites come up often.
- On townhouse streets a rear deck is often the main outdoor space; additions are more realistic on detached lots.
- Lots near the Rideau River and Mosquito Creek can sit inside the conservation authority's regulated area.
What we build in Riverside South
Typical totals with HST for a mid-range job of each kind at a Riverside South address. Each page covers what matters for that work here.
- Kitchens in Riverside South$44,300 to $59,400$295 to $396 per sq ftkitchen renovation, 150 sq ft, mid-range
- Bathrooms in Riverside South$20,500 to $27,500$513 to $688 per sq ftthree-piece bathroom, 40 sq ft, mid-range
- Basements in Riverside South$60,900 to $81,600$76 to $102 per sq ftbasement renovation, 800 sq ft, mid-range
- Additions in Riverside South$122,000 to $163,600$305 to $409 per sq ftrear or side addition, one storey, 400 sq ft, mid-range
- Decks and porches in Riverside South$21,200 to $27,800$88 to $116 per sq ftraised deck, 240 sq ft, cedar
- Secondary suites in Riverside South$104,900 to $140,700$150 to $201 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 Riverside South include about 2% over central Ottawa for travel and delivery.
Permits and approvals in Riverside South
What to check before work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address and your project.
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
Riverside South lies along the Rideau River and Mosquito Creek, both in the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority's area. RVCA mapped the Rideau's flood and slope hazards in 2017 and has extended its Mosquito Creek mapping in and around the community. 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.
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.
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.
Trees
On urban lots of one hectare or less, the City's Tree Protection By-law requires a permit to remove or injure a distinctive tree, which the current by-law sets at 30 cm or more across at chest height. Footings and trenches near big trees are planned around their roots. The thresholds have changed in recent years, so we check the by-law in force.
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 Riverside South
Do you work in all of Riverside South?
Yes, including the older streets of Honey Gables and the new streets east of Limebank Road as they are built. Riverside South addresses are priced at suburban rates in the estimator.
Where these local facts come from
- ottawa.ca: riverside south community design plan
- ottawa.ca: wardboundary
- ottawa.ca: ward maps and school board zones
- ottawa.ca: riverside south secondary plan 2024 update
- ottawa.ca: committee approves secondary plan riverside south
- ottawa.ca: heritage conservation districts
- ottawa.ca: adding apartment secondary dwelling units
- documents.ottawa.ca: better homes second dwelling en
Checked October 2026. Rules change: we confirm what applies to your address.
Planning a renovation in Riverside South?
Use the estimator with Riverside South prices, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.