What inspections does Ottawa do on a wall removal job?

The City of Ottawa's inspection process for a wall removal is set by Building Code Services, and the details depend on what the permit application covers. We found no published list of mandatory inspection stages specific to wall removal on ottawa.ca beyond the general requirement to book inspections 48 hours in advance through My ServiceOttawa.

What the City will want to see, and when, follows the work itself. A structural change, opening a load-bearing wall and installing a beam, involves stages where framing is visible before it is covered. Inspectors look at work before it is closed in, so the sequence matters: the beam, posts and any new framing need to be in place and accessible. Once drywall goes up, that inspection window closes. Ask Building Code Services, when you apply, exactly which stages require an inspection and what must be exposed at each one.

The order of the job shapes the inspection points. Design comes first, then the permit, then temporary support while the wall comes out, then the beam and posts, then the inspection, then patching and finishing. If the City asks for drawings with the application, those drawings are prepared by a qualified, registered designer (BCIN), an architect, an engineer, or by you for a house you own. Many beam replacements are designed by an engineer or a registered designer; ask the City what it will accept for your specific opening.

A few things to confirm with Building Code Services before work starts: how many inspection stages apply to your job, what must remain uncovered at each stage, and whether the permit covers only the structural work or the patching as well. The carpenter and designer can help you sequence the work so nothing gets closed in before an inspector has seen it.

Confirm with the City whether a permit is required for your wall removal before any planning goes further.