Excavated soil from an Ottawa patio dig: who hauls it away?

The City of Ottawa's Trail Waste Facility lists soil (top soil, sand, sod) at $81.90 per tonne, and large quantities over 5 tonnes must be pre-approved; its fill rate is for asphalt, masonry and concrete without rebar. Ask the contractor to spell out in the quote what happens to the spoil.

Who removes it comes down to what the written quote says. Ask before signing whether excavation spoil is included, how much soil the dig is expected to produce, and where it will go. If the contractor is taking it off site, ask whether that is priced by the load or by volume.

A few things worth knowing before the dig starts. Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, anyone who excavates, grades or breaks ground is an excavator and must submit a locate request through Ontario Dig Authority before digging. Locates are free. The Act requires the request to go in at least five business days before the dig is expected to start, and no more than 30 days before. Ask who will submit the locate request, because the Act places the obligation on whoever digs.

If the patio is near the property line, both Zoning By-law 2008-250 and Zoning By-law 2026-50 apply to applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, with the most restrictive provisions from each governing. Soft landscaping requirements under Zoning By-law 2026-50 section 802 set minimum percentages for front and rear yards, so the area being paved is worth confirming with the City before the sod comes off.

The contractor doing the work is required to hold a City of Ottawa hardscaping contractor licence, which has been in effect since March 1, 2026. Ask to see a copy of the licence and check the City's published list of licensed hardscaping contractors yourself.

Before signing, ask the contractor to put the excavation depth, the estimated volume of spoil, and the disposal plan in writing as a separate line in the quote.