Do I need a locate before digging for a patio in Kanata?

Yes, a locate is required before digging for a patio in Kanata. Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, anyone who digs, grades or excavates is an "excavator," and that includes a homeowner breaking ground for a patio. You cannot start digging until you have submitted a locate request and each member has responded.

Submit the request through Ontario Dig Authority at least five business days before you expect to start. The Act says a standard request is not submitted more than 30 days before the dig is expected to begin. Locates are free: the Act says no fee is charged for submitting a request or for doing a locate. Ontario Dig Authority does not physically mark the lines itself; it relays the request to the buried infrastructure owners, who then mark their lines.

One thing to sort out before work starts: we found no statement on whether privately owned lines, such as a line running to a shed, a garage, a hot tub or outdoor lights, are located through the same process. Ask whoever is doing the work who will mark any private lines on your property, and get a clear answer before the first shovel goes in.

On the contractor side, the City of Ottawa's Hardscaping Contractor Licence has been required since March 1, 2026 for any business installing a concrete patio on private property. Ask to see the licence and check the City's published list of licensed hardscaping contractors yourself. The City's March 2026 guidance says a licensed contractor will also provide a written contract and give you a copy of the Landscaping Education Guide.

A few other things apply to a Kanata patio. The City's patio page sets out the conditions under which a patio is exempt from a building permit: the structure is supported directly on the ground, not raised or on deck blocks, and it does not adversely affect occupant load, exiting or barrier-free access. If your patio connects to steps serving the house, the City's Building Code Services advisory says those steps may need a building permit depending on elevation change and other factors, so it is worth asking the City before work begins. For applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, Zoning By-laws 2008-250 and 2026-50 both apply, with the most restrictive provisions governing; both set soft landscaping requirements for front and exterior side yards, and to confirm what applies to your lot, check with the City.

Once the locate is booked, line up the written contract with the full scope and price, any required permit in hand, and a copy of the Landscaping Education Guide from the contractor, so everything is documented before concrete is ordered.