In short
- The City pays the lesser of the maximum or the cost of the work: $1,000 for an indoor sanitary or storm valve, $2,500 for an outdoor storm valve.
- The plumbing permit fee comes back at 100 percent of the current fee.
- Build-date cut-offs: storm valve rebates need a house older than January 1, 2004; sanitary valve rebates, older than January 1, 2012.
- From July 1, 2026 you get 18 months, counted from the permit's issue date, to finish and apply. It used to be 12.
- The rebate does not cover maintenance, repair or replacement of an existing device.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit, plumbing work only | 100% of the current fee | City of Ottawa |
| Indoor sanitary backwater valve | Up to $1,000 | Lesser of the maximum or the cost |
| Indoor storm backwater valve | Up to $1,000 | Same rule |
| Outdoor storm backwater valve | Up to $2,500 | Same rule |
Sources. City of Ottawa: Residential Protective Plumbing program and its frequently asked questions (PDF), seen 29.10.2026. Install costs: Reno Quotes, Backwater Valve guide, Canada-wide, updated 29.09.2026, seen 29.10.2026.
Who qualifies
The program serves owners of residential property inside the City of Ottawa. Two build dates draw the line: a stormwater backwater valve rebate needs a property built before January 1, 2004, and a sanitary backwater valve rebate needs one built before January 1, 2012. The device cannot have been installed by the City. Those cut-offs follow the rules that made valves mandatory in new homes, which the City dates to 2004 for storm and 2012 for sanitary connections.
Rebates stop at new protection. The City says they are unavailable for maintenance, repair or replacement of an existing protective device. A valve that failed and needs a swap falls outside; a house that never had one falls inside. If you are unsure which describes yours, tell the company when it calls, and it can check the line during its visit.
What the City pays
The City pays the lesser of the maximum or the cost. Indoor sanitary and indoor storm valves carry a $1,000 maximum each, and an outdoor storm valve $2,500. The plumbing permit fee is returned in full at its current amount. A national price guide puts an Ottawa valve at $1,800 to $3,800 installed, so a $1,000 rebate on an indoor job covers between a quarter and a little over half of that. Pump rebates sit in the same program and are listed on the sump pump page.
The claim, in order
- Talk to a trade. The City suggests discussing device options with one or more plumbers, contractors or electricians before you decide.
- Get the permit first. The Building Code Act requires a building permit before construction or renovation. Its issue date starts your clock.
- Do the work. If a pump connects to a whole-home generator, arrange an electrical inspection and complete the Whole Home Generator Review form.
- Book the inspection. Contact the City as the permit instructs.
- Pay in full. Finalize payment with the plumber and get a paid, itemized invoice.
- Apply. Submit online or on paper within the time limit, with ownership proof, the permit, the inspection report with receipts, and the invoice.
Since July 1, 2026 the window from permit issue to a complete application is 18 months, up from 12. Put the date on the calendar the day the permit arrives. The permit page explains the permit side, and the valve page covers the job itself.
What the City asks to see
- A paid, itemized invoice for the installation of the protective devices. Ask the company for separate lines.
- The inspection report from Building Code Services, with receipts.
- The permit, whose issue date sets the deadline.
- Documents confirming ownership of the property.
- The generator form, only if a pump connects to a whole-home generator.
Questions the City answers by phone
The program’s contact line is 3-1-1 and the building permit desk reaches through buildingpermits@ottawa.ca. The City’s FAQ says to call if you are unsure whether the project needs a permit. An unusual case is theirs to decide, so ask before you pay.
Who you are dealing with
Three parties, three roles. The City pays the rebate, and only to the owner who applies. The independent Ottawa plumbing company that gets your request from Ottawa Plumbing Desk pulls or helps with the permit, installs the valve and writes the itemized invoice. The desk files no application for you and touches no rebate money.
Questions to ask the company
- Will the invoice list the valve, labour and permit as separate paid lines, as the City asks for?
- Does my home qualify by build date for the storm valve, the sanitary valve, or both?
- Do you pull the building permit, and do you or I call for the inspection once the valve is in?
- Is the valve going on a lateral that serves only my unit?
- How long after the work will the final paid invoice and the inspection report reach me?
Have this ready for the call
- Proof of ownership of the property
- The build year, from the deed, purchase papers or City property records
- The building permit, once issued, with its issue date written where you will see it
- A folder for the inspection report, the receipts and the final paid, itemized invoice
- If a sump pump on a generator is part of the job: the Whole Home Generator Review form
Questions people ask
Do I apply before the work or after it?
After. The City asks you to choose a professional, get the building permit first, finish the work, book the permit inspection and pay the invoice. Only then do you apply, online or on paper, with ownership proof, the permit, the inspection report and the paid, itemized invoice.
I paid $700 for a valve. What does the City pay?
The City rebates the lesser of the maximum amount or the cost of the work, so the invoice total matters. Example: a $700 indoor job returns up to $700, and a $1,400 indoor job returns up to $1,000. The permit fee is rebated on top, at 100 percent.
Where do I send a paper application?
The City accepts hardcopy at any Client Service Centre or at the Permit Desk at 951 Clyde Avenue N, or by mail to Residential Protective Plumbing, City of Ottawa, 951 Clyde Avenue N, Ottawa, ON K1Z 5A6. You can also complete the application online and attach the documents there.
Can one application cover a valve and a sump pump?
The City says a property may qualify for one or more of the rebates. Each device has its own maximum, and the pump rebates need battery backup or a generator connection. The paperwork is one set: ownership, permit, inspection report, receipts and the itemized invoice for the protective plumbing devices.
My new house must already have a valve. Is there still a rebate?
The City says backwater valves were mandatory in new homes after 2004 for storm and after 2012 for sanitary connections, and that some older homes had them added later. The rebate cuts off at those build dates, so a home built after them falls outside the valve rebates. Ask 3-1-1 if you cannot tell which side of the date your house sits on.
