Red flags in a concrete quote from a Nepean contractor?

Start with the City of Ottawa hardscaping contractor licence. Since March 1, 2026, any business installing concrete patios, walkways, steps or pads in Nepean must hold that licence, carry commercial general liability insurance of not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence and automobile liability of not less than $2,000,000, provide a written contract, and give you a copy of the City's Landscaping Education Guide. If a quote arrives without any mention of those requirements, that is worth pausing on.

Beyond the licence, here are the things in a concrete quote that deserve a closer look:

• No written contract or scope of work. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, a direct agreement over $50 must be in writing, signed by both parties, and delivered to you, and you have 10 days after receiving it to cancel without reason.
• No itemised breakdown for excavation, base preparation, concrete strength, finish, removal of old concrete, and disposal. The City's Trail Waste Facility charges $144 per tonne above 250 kg for clean concrete without rebar; if disposal is in the quote, ask what it covers.
• No concrete specification. The 2024 Ontario Building Code sets a minimum compressive strength of 32 MPa for all exterior flatwork and garage floors. Ask for that number in writing, along with the proposed slab thickness and base depth.
• A quote that is an estimate only. The Consumer Protection Act, 2002 says a supplier shall not charge more than 10 per cent above an estimate; if the quote is framed as an estimate rather than a fixed price, you should know that going in.
• No mention of locates. Under the Ontario Underground Infrastructure Notification System Act, 2012, anyone who breaks ground must submit a locate request through Ontario Dig Authority and wait for all members to respond before digging. Ask who will submit the request before anyone digs.
• No cold-weather plan when the pour could happen with the air below 5 °C. The 2024 Ontario Building Code requires that when air temperature is below 5 °C, concrete be kept between 10 °C and 25 °C while being mixed and placed, and maintained at not less than 10 °C for 72 hours after placing.
• Pressure to pay a large deposit before any work begins. We found no statutory cap on deposits; that makes it worth asking what the payment schedule is tied to.
• No mention of the Construction Act holdback. Each payer retains 10 per cent of the price of services or materials as they are supplied; get advice for your situation on how that applies to your contract.

One thing the quote cannot tell you on its own: whether the work touches the City right of way. If the walkway or steps reach the boulevard, the Access By-law 2026-139 may require an access permit ($208) before work begins, and the contractor must get a road cut permit for any work in the right of way. Ask whether the scope crosses the property line and who is pulling those permits.

Last check before signing: see the City of Ottawa hardscaping contractor licence and confirm it yourself against the City's published list of licensed contractors.