Concrete Walkways
Poured concrete front and side walkways in Ottawa, including the zoning width limit and the City rules where a walk meets the sidewalk.
We did not find two published Ottawa walkway prices that agree, so we do not quote a range. Ask for a per-square-foot price and what the base and removal include.
Find a Concrete ProAbout Concrete Walkways
A walkway is exterior flatwork, so the 2024 Ontario Building Code standard for the concrete is the same as for a patio: at least 32 MPa at 28 days and a water-to-cement ratio no higher than 0.45 (Div. B, 9.3.1.6. and 9.3.1.7.). Thickness and base are set by your contractor's specification, not by the Code.
Width is a zoning question. Ottawa's new Zoning By-law 2026-50 caps a walkway leading to a front or exterior side lot line at 1.8 metres, and counts walkways together with driveways and parking spaces toward a limit of 50 per cent of the lot width. Zoning By-law 2008-250 also allows a walkway up to 1.8 m of hard landscaping in any yard. Both by-laws apply to new applications, with the most restrictive rule winning, and parts of 2026-50 are still under appeal, so confirm with the City.
The strip between your property line and the road is City right of way. Under the Access By-law (No. 2026-139), which replaced the Private Approach By-law on April 8, 2026, a residential walkway access can be built there without a permit only when it meets the by-law's conditions, including a width of no more than 1.8 metres and no change to the curb or sidewalk. Otherwise an access permit ($208 in 2026) and a road cut permit are needed, and the contractor doing the work gets the road cut permit.
Since March 1, 2026 the City of Ottawa requires a hardscaping contractor licence for any business that installs or alters concrete pads, patios, walkways, steps, driveways or retaining walls on private property. Ask to see the licence and check the City's list of licensed hardscaping contractors yourself; we do not check it for you.
What This Work Covers
- Layout to the zoning width limit
- Excavation and compacted base
- Concrete to the Code's exterior flatwork standard
- Slope away from the house and control joints
- Access By-law check where the walk meets the City sidewalk
Popular For
Common questions about concrete walkways
- How thick should a concrete front walk be in Kanata?
- Should my Orleans patio quote mention control joints?
- Narrow lot in Hintonburg: can I add a walkway beside the driveway?
- How do Westboro concrete contractors price a small walkway?
- Does Ottawa allow a concrete walkway in the right of way?
- Walkway access built without a permit in Orleans: what does the by-law say?
- Concrete heaved under my Barrhaven back steps: repair options?
- My Stittsville garage floor slopes toward the house: what now?
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Ready to Get Started?
Tell us about your concrete walkways job and we'll send it to local concrete contractors in Ottawa. They reply by email.