In short
- Cabinets run $3,000 to $30,000+ depending on stock, semi-custom or custom (HomeStars, Canada, 2026).
- Counters run $20–$155 per sq ft installed, by material: laminate, quartz, granite, butcher block.
- Replacing cabinets with the plumbing fixtures in the same place needs no City building permit.
- Moving the sink counts as a plumbing alteration and needs a permit; HomeStars puts each relocation at $1,000–$3,000.
- New circuits for lights or outlets in the cabinet run go through a business with an ECRA/ESA licence.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen cabinets, stock to custom | $3,000–$30,000+ | HomeStars Canada-wide guide, updated 21.08.2026 |
| Countertops, installed | $20–$155 per sq ft | Same guide; the material sets the price |
| Sink or gas line moved, each | $1,000–$3,000 | Same guide; plus electrical where needed |
| Small refresh incl. cabinet painting or refacing | $15,000–$25,000 | One Ottawa firm’s published list, 2026 |
| Mid-range kitchen renovation | $25,000–$50,000 | Same firm’s list |
| City permit, plumbing work only | $117 | Per application, 2026 fee schedule |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: HomeStars, How Much Does a Home Renovation Cost in Canada 2026 (updated 21/08/2026); Done Right Renovations, How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Ottawa in 2026? (May 2026) (one firm’s list); City of Ottawa, Projects not requiring Building Permits; City of Ottawa, Building permit projects; City of Ottawa, Comprehensive Building Code Fee Schedule; Electrical Safety Authority, Finding the Right Contractor
Three routes for the cabinets
Most cabinet jobs start from one of three situations. The boxes are sound and only the doors look tired. The boxes are worn and the layout works. Or the layout changes and the cabinets are ordered new.
Painting or refacing sits at the cheap end. One Ottawa firm lists it inside a small kitchen update, with new counters, paint, lighting and appliance upgrades. New cabinets fall into HomeStars’ three lines: stock, semi-custom and custom, together $3,000 to $30,000 and more. That spread is the main reason two kitchen quotes differ.
The counter priced by the foot
HomeStars prices counters at $20 to $155 per square foot installed. One Ottawa firm adds that price also moves with the edge profile, the thickness and the level of customization.
Measure the run in feet, multiply by the depth in feet, and add an island if there is one. Thirty square feet is $600 to $4,650 at those rates. The company confirms the area when it measures, and the sink and cooktop cut-outs belong to the same quote.
Sink, gas and the permit line
Swapping cabinets in place is on the City’s list of work without a building permit, provided plumbing fixtures stay where they are. The City lists plumbing alterations, additions and extensions as permit work. Moving the sink to an island qualifies. HomeStars puts each relocated plumbing or gas connection at $1,000 to $3,000. Plumbing-only work is $117 per application; work that also changes walls is $12.75 per $1,000 of value.
The kitchen renovation page shows how a layout change reshapes the whole budget, and the permits page lists the rest of the City’s rules.
Lights, outlets and the ESA
Under-cabinet lighting, a new outlet in the backsplash or a circuit for a built-in oven is electrical work, so a contracting business holding an ECRA/ESA licence joins the job, and its seven-digit number shows on estimates and vehicles. A general contractor hires that business. The one doing the work files the notification of work, so a contractor who asks you to file it in your name is a red flag.
Ordering, timing and the written quote
One Ottawa firm advises ordering cabinets early to avoid delays and rush fees. Ask for the week the cabinets arrive, the day the counters are measured and the day the sink works again. A good quote names the cabinet line, lists linear feet for base and wall units, gives the counter material and price per square foot, and says who removes the old counters. For the full budget around these lines, see kitchen renovation cost in Ottawa; for a compact room, see small kitchen renovation.
Who measures the cabinets
One independent company gets your kitchen request through the Desk. It calls, measures, and prices cabinets and counters together in its own quote.
Questions to ask the company
- Which cabinet line is in the quote, by name, and is it stock, semi-custom or custom?
- How many linear feet of base and wall cabinets, and which fillers and end panels are included?
- What is the counter material, the edge and the price per square foot?
- Who measures for the counter, and on which day after the cabinets go in?
- Does the sink or the range move, and if so who applies for the permit?
Have this ready for the call
- The length of each wall in feet, with window and door positions.
- A photo of the cabinet interior under the sink and of the wall behind the range.
- Counter material and colour samples you like, or a link.
- The sink and faucet you plan to use, with the cut-out size from the box.
- Which floor and appliances stay.
Questions people ask
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets in Ottawa?
The City lists replacing kitchen or bathroom cabinets as exempt, provided the plumbing fixtures remain in the same location. A relocated sink, a removed wall or a new window brings a permit. Heritage-designated buildings get no exemptions, so ask the City if yours is one.
What is the difference between stock, semi-custom and custom cabinets?
Stock cabinets come in set sizes and finishes. Semi-custom offers more sizes and options within one maker’s line. Custom is built to your wall measurements. HomeStars’ range of $3,000 to $30,000+ covers all three, so a quote should name the line it assumes.
Can I keep the cabinets and change only the counters?
Often yes, when the boxes are sound and the layout works. Say so in the request. A small refresh including painting or refacing cabinets sits in the lowest band of one Ottawa firm’s list, at $15,000–$25,000 for the whole kitchen.
How do I work out the area for a counter quote?
Multiply each counter run’s length by its depth in feet and add the runs together. At HomeStars’ $20–$155 per sq ft, 30 sq ft comes to $600–$4,650 installed. The company confirms the area at its own measure, including the island and sink cut-out.
Does an under-cabinet light or a counter outlet need an electrician?
New circuits are electrical work, which only a business holding an ECRA/ESA licence may be hired for. The ESA says general contractors have no electrical licence of their own. The electrical business files a notification of work with the ESA before starting.
