Home Inspection Costs in Ottawa
ontario.ca puts home inspection fees at $350–$600, and says they may be higher depending on the size and condition of the home. These order sheets break that down by home type and by the extras buyers ask about. A line shows a price only where a government source or at least two independent Ottawa price lists agree. Otherwise it says to ask for a quote.
Reviewed 2026-10-01 · How these ranges are set
Pick an order sheet
- Home inspection cost Detached or semi, up to about 2,000 sq ft: about $450–$640 4 home lines · 5 extras, 4 priced by quote only
- Condo inspection cost Condo apartment: about $350–$470 + HST 2 home lines · 2 extras, 1 priced by quote only
- New home PDI inspection cost One visit: the PDI or the one-year visit: about $450–$600 2 home lines · 2 extras, 1 priced by quote only
Every line, and where it comes from
| Line | Published range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Condo apartment | about $350–$470 + HST | Two independent Ottawa price lists, 2026. The one that states tax adds HST on top. |
| Townhouse | about $400–$515 | Two independent Ottawa-area price lists, 2026. |
| Detached or semi, up to about 2,000 sq ft | about $450–$640 | Two independent Ottawa price lists, 2026. |
| Larger than about 2,000 sq ft | Ask for a quote | Published price lists step up with square footage but do not agree on a range. |
| One visit: the PDI or the one-year visit | about $450–$600 | Two independent Ottawa price lists, 2025–26. |
| Several visits (earlier building stages, then the PDI and one-year) | Ask for a quote | Price lists that sell stage visits package them differently. |
| Line | Published range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Thermal imaging | Ask for a quote | Published Ottawa price lists differ: one lists it as an extra charge, another includes it in the inspection fee. |
| Sewer camera on the lateral | Ask for a quote | City of Ottawa: the homeowner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the property line to the home. Repairs are a plumbing job, not part of the inspection. |
| Radon test by a professional | Ask for a quote | Health Canada strongly recommends testing only with devices that appear on the C-NRPP list. |
| Do-it-yourself long-term radon kit | $29–$170 | Ottawa Public Health. You buy it, not the inspector. Health Canada: the minimum test length is 91 days for a valid estimate, and short-term measurements are not appropriate for informing mitigation decisions. Take corrective action if the average annual level is above 200 Bq/m³. |
| Mould or air sampling | Ask for a quote | Health Canada: results from tests for the presence of fungi in air cannot be used to assess risks to the health of building occupants. Testing and removal are covered on Ottawa Abatement. |
No line is added to another. Each comes from different published price lists. Ask for one written price that names every line you want.
Wood stove or fireplace (WETT): WETT inspection costs and insurance questions are covered on Ottawa Fireplaces (ottawafireplaces.com). It is not a line on this sheet.
What to ask any inspector before you book
- Ask to see a copy of the inspection report the inspector uses. (ontario.ca)
- Ask whether they have experience inspecting the type of home you are considering. (ontario.ca)
- Ask if they choose to have insurance. Ontario does not require it at this time. (ontario.ca)
- Ask for accreditation that shows their training and experience, and for references. (ontario.ca)
- Get quotes from more than one inspector. (ontario.ca)
- Ask for a written contract outlining the items to be inspected, the report deadline and the total cost before the work starts. (Office of Consumer Affairs (Canada))
- Ask whether the CSA A770 home inspection standard will be applied. (Office of Consumer Affairs (Canada))
- If the agreement includes an estimate, the final charge cannot exceed it by more than 10 per cent. (Consumer Protection Act, 2002, s.10(1))
Inspection fees are one of the upfront costs of buying. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says to be prepared to spend between 1.5% and 4% of the purchase price on these costs combined, not on the inspection alone.