Built-ins & Shelving

Built-ins are storage made to fit a particular room: bookcases beside a fireplace, a window seat, a wall unit, closet shelving, a bench and hooks by the side door, or shelving under a stair. Built-ins do not appear on either of ottawa.ca's lists, the projects that need a building permit or the ones that do not. If you are unsure whether yours needs one, ask the City.

The wall behind the unit is where the rules start. Recessing a unit between studs, running wiring for lights, or cutting into a wall means notching or drilling studs, and the Building Code limits that: a load-bearing stud keeps at least two-thirds of its depth undamaged, a stud that carries no load keeps at least 40 mm, and a top plate keeps at least 50 mm, unless the member is reinforced. Moving or removing a wall to make room is a different job: ottawa.ca lists "adding or removing walls" as permit work.

On an individually designated heritage house, the designation by-law may protect interior features such as original built-in cabinetry; check it with City heritage staff before anything is taken out.

Ask the quote to name the material, whether the unit is built on site or in a shop and installed, the finish, the hardware, and how the unit is anchored to the wall. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets and basement built-ins are covered by other Ottawa Construction Network sites.