How thick should a concrete front walk be in Kanata?

We found no Building Code thickness for an exterior walk: the 75 mm minimum in Ontario's 2024 Code is for floors-on-ground, and that provision applies to garage slabs and similar interior floors, not to exterior walkways. The thickness belongs in the contractor's written specification, and you should ask for it in writing before signing anything.

What the contractor specifies will depend on the base preparation, the soil conditions on your lot, whether the walk crosses a frost-susceptible soil such as clay or silt, and whether it connects to steps or a landing at the house entrance. The 2024 Ontario Building Code does require concrete for exterior flatwork to reach a compressive strength of at least 32 MPa after 28 days, and it sets a maximum water-to-cementing-materials ratio of 0.45 for exterior flatwork. We found no statement on whether they bind a walkway built without a permit, but 32 MPa is the Code standard for exterior flatwork and is worth asking for regardless.

A few City of Ottawa rules are worth knowing before work starts. The City's Hardscaping Contractor Licence, in effect since March 1, 2026, is required for any business installing a walkway on private property. The licence costs the contractor $319 for 2026 and requires commercial general liability insurance of at least $2,000,000. Ask to see the licence and check the contractor's name against the City's published list yourself. Ottawa Concrete Pros does not verify anyone's licence or insurance.

If the walkway reaches the street, the portion in the City's right of way is governed by the Access By-law (No. 2026-139). A residential pedestrian access no wider than 1.8 metres, not within 0.6 metres of a fire hydrant or 1.8 metres of a vehicular access, and requiring no curb or sidewalk modification, may be built without an access permit. If the frontage is 12 metres or less and there is an existing vehicular access, a pedestrian access is not permitted in the right of way unless otherwise approved by the City. Zoning By-laws 2008-250 and 2026-50 both apply to applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, with the most restrictive provisions from each governing; both by-laws limit a walkway in a front or exterior side yard to 1.8 metres in width. Confirm the rules for your lot with the City.

If the work involves digging, whoever digs must submit a locate request through Ontario Dig Authority at least five business days before breaking ground. Locates are free and required by the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012. Ask who will submit the locate request for your job.

Before you sign the contract, ask the contractor to put the proposed slab thickness, the base depth and material, and the concrete strength in writing so you have a clear specification to compare across quotes.