Does the carpenter's labour count toward my Ottawa permit fee valuation?

Yes, labour counts. The City of Ottawa's permit fee valuation is "the total value of all materials, labour, overhead and professional fees" for the work covered by the permit.

The fee rate is $12.75 per $1,000 of that combined valuation, with a minimum of $117. So if the City values your project at $10,000, the permit fee works out to $127.50. The City sets the valuation; whatever number your carpenter quotes you for the job is not automatically what the City will use as its valuation figure.

What this means in practice is that a quote covering a larger scope, more hours or higher-end materials will produce a higher valuation, and therefore a higher permit fee. The items that feed into the valuation include:

• design fees (where a designer or engineer is involved)
• the cost of materials
• all labour on the permitted work
• overhead the contractor charges
• any professional fees tied to the project

When you get a quote, ask the carpenter to break out each of those components clearly. That breakdown helps you understand what the City will likely see when it calculates the fee, and it also tells you whether the quote is complete. A quote that lists only materials, for example, is missing pieces.

You apply for the permit through My ServiceOttawa. The City says to book inspections at least 48 hours in advance. If you want the carpenter to apply on your behalf, get that arrangement in writing; under the Building Code Act, both you and the contractor carry responsibility for making sure the permit is in place.

One question worth putting to any carpenter you are considering: whether they hold a Certificate of Qualification in carpentry, keeping in mind that the trade is non-compulsory in Ontario, so the certificate exists but is not required to work.