Stittsville, west Ottawa
Secondary suites in Stittsville
About 30 percent of Stittsville's townhomes are rented, according to preliminary 2024 tax data, and a basement suite is worth considering in detached, semi-detached and townhouse homes. A suite needs a building permit, its own entrance and the Building Code requirements for height, exits and fire separation.
Typical secondary suite in Stittsville, with HST $104,900 to $140,700 $150 to $201 per sq ft for 700 sq ft
AI imageWhat secondary suites cost in Stittsville
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 Stittsville 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 Stittsville include about 2% over central Ottawa for travel and delivery.
Homes in Stittsville
What the local housing means for secondary suites.
The village was founded in the 1850s and rebuilt around the railway after an 1870 fire. Its Main Street core still has 19th-century buildings, and the City adopted a design plan for it in 2015. The suburban subdivisions around it date from the mid-1980s onward, and population growth suggests the largest share was built since 2000.
- Most Stittsville homes appear to be under 40 years old, so original builder-grade kitchens, bathrooms and basements are a typical starting point.
- Older houses near Main Street can need deeper kitchen, bathroom and addition work than the suburban homes around them.
- About 30 percent of townhomes are rented, which supports basement suites and rental-ready updates.
Permits and approvals
What to check in Stittsville before secondary suites work starts. Rules change, so we confirm what applies to your address.
Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority
Poole Creek and Feedmill Creek are tributaries of the Carp River, managed by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. Poole Creek's headwaters are in a provincially significant wetland near Highway 7 and Hazeldean Road. Additions and alterations in a regulated area need an MVCA permit before the building permit, and MVCA approved new Carp tributary hazard maps in July 2026.
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 Stittsville.
Good to know
How much does a secondary suite cost in Stittsville?
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.
Do you work on the older houses near Main Street?
Yes. Older houses there usually need more investigation before a renovation, so the estimator's older-house allowance is worth switching on, and we check for designated buildings before exterior work.
Planning a secondary suite in Stittsville?
Price it in the estimator with Stittsville rates, then send it to us. We confirm the numbers on a site visit and follow up with a written quote.