Concrete Steps Cost in Ottawa: Price a Set, Then Check the Code
About $2,500 to $5,000+ per set of 3 to 5 poured steps
Ontario published prices read in September 2026. Landings, railings, removal and footings can be extra.
Reviewed 2026-09-30 · how we set these ranges
Concrete steps are priced per set, not per square foot. The number of risers also decides how the steps must be supported under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, which is often where quotes differ. Pick the step count below to see the published band and the rules that come with it.
Price a set of steps
$2,500 to $5,000+ per set of 3 to 5
Ontario published prices for a poured set of 3 to 5 steps.
Get quotes for thisAn illustration from published 2025-26 prices, not a quote. Excavation, removal, disposal and extras can be added.
What shows up in the quote
| Line | Published figure | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Poured set, 3 to 5 steps | About $2,500 to $5,000+ | Number of risers, width, finish, landing |
| Precast steps | Too few published prices | Treat as a separate quote |
| Footings or piers (more than 2 risers) | No published figure | Footing depth and method in writing |
| Removal of old steps | No published figure for steps alone | Removal and disposal as their own line |
The rules behind this job
Steps with 1 or 2 risers may be laid at ground level. Concrete stairs with more than 2 risers and 2 treads must sit on concrete or masonry walls or piers at least 150 mm across, or be cantilevered from the house foundation, with foundation depth following section 9.12: in clay soils, 1.2 m but not less than the depth of frost penetration.
O. Reg. 163/24, Div. B, 9.12.2.2 and 9.8.9.2For steps serving one house: rise 125 to 200 mm, run 255 to 355 mm, adjacent risers within 5 mm. No handrail is required for 3 risers or fewer; above that, one handrail 865 to 1 070 mm high. A guard is required where the drop is more than 600 mm within 1.2 m.
O. Reg. 163/24, Table 9.8.4.1, 9.8.4.4, 9.8.7.1, 9.8.7.4, 9.8.8.1The City's Landscaping Education Guide says stairs and landings that provide access to a building can need a building permit; ask the City's Building Code Services before steps are rebuilt.
City of Ottawa, Landscaping Education Guide (March 2026)Since March 1, 2026 the City of Ottawa has required a hardscaping contractor licence for businesses that install or alter concrete pads, patios, walkways, steps, driveways and retaining walls on private property. Licence holders must carry at least $2,000,000 of commercial general liability insurance and give clients the City's Landscaping Education Guide. Ask to see the licence and check the City's list yourself; we do not check it.
City of Ottawa, Hardscaping Contractor Licence
Ask before you sign
- How many risers, and how will the steps be supported?
- What footing depth will you use, and why for my soil?
- Is a handrail or guard included where the Code requires one?
- Who will ask the City about a permit?
More on this work: Concrete Steps
Concrete Pro IQ answers behind this page
- How much do new poured concrete steps cost in Ottawa?
- Is $5,000 reasonable for a set of front steps in Gloucester?
- What is in the price of a poured step set in Vanier?
- How many risers can sit on the ground without footings in Ontario?
- May a two-riser stoop sit on grade in Riverside South?
- Do Ottawa concrete steps need two handrails?
Quick answers
Do 2-riser steps need footings?
Under the 2024 Ontario Building Code, concrete steps with 1 or 2 risers may be laid at ground level. More than 2 risers means walls or piers to foundation depth, or a cantilever from the foundation wall.
How do precast and poured steps compare on price?
We found only one published price for precast steps, so we do not compare them. Ask for both as separate quotes.
Want this done at your place?
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