In short
- Nepean was a city of its own from 1978 until 2001 and counted 186,593 residents in 2021; its urban area spread into rural land from the 1950s.
- One Ottawa firm lists $15,000 to $25,000 for a small kitchen refresh and $25,000 to $50,000 for mid-range (May 2026).
- In the City's rules, swapping cabinets with the fixtures left in place is exempt, while taking a wall out calls for a building permit.
- The Building Code counter at 101 Centrepointe Drive in Nepean is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, by appointment and walk-in.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small kitchen refresh | $15,000–$25,000 | One Ottawa firm’s published range, May 2026 |
| Mid-range kitchen renovation | $25,000–$50,000 | One Ottawa firm’s published range |
| High-end custom kitchen | $50,000–$75,000+ | One Ottawa firm’s published range |
| Bathroom, cosmetic refresh | $7,000–$12,000 | HomeStars Ottawa, 2026 |
| Moving plumbing in a bathroom | +$1,500–$5,000 | HomeStars Ottawa; more with old cast-iron or copper pipe |
| City permit, plumbing work only | $117 | Per application, 2026 fee schedule |
Sources. Seen 29.10.2026: Done Right Renovations, How Much Does a Kitchen Renovation Cost in Ottawa in 2026? (May 2026); HomeStars, Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa (updated 21/08/2026); City of Ottawa, Comprehensive Building Code Fee Schedule; City of Ottawa, Projects not requiring Building Permits; City of Ottawa, Submitting building permit applications and the issuance of building permits; ESA, Finding the Right Contractor. Area facts (1978 incorporation, 2001 amalgamation, 2021 population, 1950s and 1960s expansion, 2018 tornado, snowfall): Wikipedia, Nepean, Ontario, read 29.10.2026.
A former city with no single look
Nepean Township dates to 1792, and Nepean was incorporated as a city in 1978. It joined the amalgamated City of Ottawa in 2001. Its centre moved from Westboro, once the site of the township’s town hall, to Bells Corners. Suburban streets pushed out over farmland in the 1950s and 1960s, reaching Centrepointe in the east and Barrhaven in the south. The 2021 census put the area at 186,593 people.
That spread explains why the request should carry the build year. A house in Bells Corners and a house in Hunt Club West both count as Nepean and may date decades apart, and their kitchens ask different questions. For the newer south end, see Barrhaven.
Kitchens and cabinets
One Ottawa firm’s May 2026 list gives $15,000 to $25,000 for a small refresh with refacing or new counters, $25,000 to $50,000 mid-range and $50,000 to $75,000 or more for a custom build. The kitchen renovation cost guide adds the other published figures. The cabinets and countertops page covers the finish choices.
Say whether the sink and range stay where they are. Keeping them avoids a plumbing permit. For a small footprint, see small kitchen renovation.
What needs a permit
Flooring and paint sit on the exempt list, and so do new cabinets while the fixtures stay put. Adding or removing a wall, enlarging a window or door, and altering plumbing all need a permit. A plumbing-only application costs $117. For work that includes construction, the fee is $12.75 per $1,000 of value, again with a $117 floor. Start before the permit issues and the City adds half the fee again, capped at $10,000.
An open-plan project that removes the wall between kitchen and dining room is the common case. The permit guide walks through who applies and when.
Wiring behind the old kitchen
Moving an outlet or adding a circuit is electrical work. The ESA puts the notification on the contractor, and it treats a request that the owner file it as a warning sign. Put that on your list of questions for the call, and ask whether the old circuit stays or is replaced.
Where to take your permit questions
The Nepean Client Service Centre at 101 Centrepointe Drive, in Ben Franklin Place, is the old Nepean city hall. Its Building Code staff see people by appointment or walk-in on weekdays from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and anything you would file there can go in through My ServiceOttawa instead.
Who comes to the house
One independent renovation company gets your Nepean request from the Desk. Someone from that company calls, walks the kitchen with you and sends a quote in the company’s name. Questions about price or dates go to them directly.
Questions to ask the company
- When a [decade] Nepean kitchen comes out, what tends to turn up behind it?
- Can we keep the sink and range where they are, and what does the price look like if we move them?
- If the dining-room wall goes, which of us files for the permit?
- Who files the ESA notification if wiring changes, and can I see the licence number?
- How do you protect the floors and the route from the door to the kitchen?
Have this ready for the call
- Postal code, and the nearest of Merivale, Woodroffe or Greenbank.
- When the house was built and whether the kitchen is original.
- Photos of the kitchen from each corner, plus the electrical panel and the wall you may want to remove.
- Cabinet and appliance dimensions, and a note on which appliances you are keeping.
- Whether the driveway can hold a bin for a week.
Questions people ask
Which parts of Ottawa count as Nepean?
Nepean was a city until 2001 and the name stays in daily use for much of the west-central suburbs: Bells Corners, Centrepointe, Craig Henry, Merivale, Hunt Club West and others. Give your postal code, as the name survives in everyday use.
Does snow change a Nepean kitchen job?
Mostly outside the house. Nepean gets about 150 to 200 cm of snow a year, so from December to March the bin and the deliveries need a cleared driveway. HomeStars notes that those months are slower for Ottawa contractors, which can free up dates. Tell the company where the bin can sit and who clears the drive.
What does a plumbing-only permit cost?
The City’s 2026 fee schedule lists $117 per application for work that includes plumbing only, such as moving a kitchen sink without other construction. Work that adds walls is charged at $12.75 per $1,000 of value, minimum $117.
My Nepean house was damaged in the 2018 storm. Does that change a renovation?
Wikipedia records that the September 2018 storm hit Nepean, including Arlington Woods and Craig Henry. If your repair work started from an insurance claim, bring the claim scope and the adjuster’s notes to the call, so the company prices the same list.
