Paying for patio work in Stittsville: what should the contract say?

A written contract protects you on both sides. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, any direct agreement over $50 must be in writing, signed by both parties, and delivered to you, and you have 10 days after receiving that written copy to cancel without any reason. If the contract includes an estimate, the supplier cannot charge more than 10 per cent above it. Get the contract before any work starts.

The Construction Act requires each payer to retain a holdback equal to 10 per cent of the price of services or materials as they are supplied; get advice for your situation. A contractor's lien expires 60 days after the earlier of completion or abandonment where there is no certificate of substantial performance. Ask a lawyer before releasing any holdback on a large job.

Here is what a solid patio contract should cover, in plain terms:

• the full scope of work: area dimensions, excavation depth, base material and depth, concrete strength (32 MPa is the 2024 Ontario Building Code standard for exterior flatwork), finish type (broom, exposed aggregate, stamped), and any steps or edging
• the concrete specification in writing, including the strength and, for site-batched concrete, the air entrainment range the 2024 Ontario Building Code sets out
• removal and disposal of existing concrete, stated separately, with the Trail Waste Facility fill rate at $144 per tonne above 250 kg as a reference if you want to check the disposal line
• who submits the locate request through Ontario Dig Authority before any digging, and when
• cold-weather protection plan if work runs into periods when the air temperature is below 5 °C, since the 2024 Ontario Building Code requires concrete to be kept at not less than 10 °C for 72 hours after placing in those conditions
• the contractor's City of Ottawa Hardscaping Contractor Licence number, since the City requires a licence for concrete patios, walkways and steps on private property; the City's March 2026 guidance says to ask to see it and to check the City's published list of licensed contractors
• proof of commercial general liability insurance of not less than $2,000,000 inclusive per occurrence, which the City requires as a condition of the licence
• a payment schedule tied to stages of work, not to calendar dates alone
• a warranty statement, in writing, for what the contractor will cover and for how long

On zoning, for applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, Zoning By-law 2008-250 and Zoning By-law 2026-50 both apply, with the most restrictive provisions from each governing. Soft landscaping minimums in the front yard depend on your yard's setback depth and lot width under 2026-50. Confirm the rules for your lot with the City before the contract is signed, so the patio footprint is within what zoning allows.

The City's patio page sets out the conditions under which a patio is exempt from a building permit. If your patio connects to or provides access to the house, or involves steps with more than two risers, ask the City's Building Code Services whether a permit is needed before the contract locks in a start date.

Ask the contractor to show you their City of Ottawa Hardscaping Contractor Licence before you sign, then check the name against the City's published list yourself, and ask for a copy of their current liability insurance certificate.