A Homeowner’s Checklist for Ottawa Excavation Before the First Cut

A dig can go from planned to underway in a matter of minutes once the machine starts. This checklist is meant for the weeks before that moment, when a few hours of preparation can save days of delay and plenty of money. Work through it with your builder or contractor and tick each item off before the first cut.

Paperwork and Approvals

• Confirm whether your project needs a City of Ottawa building permit, and who is applying for it.
• Check whether a lot grading plan or site plan is required, especially for infill or additions.
• If you live near a watercourse, wetland or steep slope, ask whether the local conservation authority needs to review the work.
• Look into the City's tree protection rules if any larger trees are near the work area.
• Keep copies of stamped drawings on site for the crew and inspectors.

Underground Services

• Request utility locates through Ontario One Call well ahead of the start date.
• Make a list of private lines the utilities will not mark, such as power to a shed, gas to a barbecue, irrigation lines or old drainage pipes.
• Find your septic tank and bed if you are on a rural property.
• Make sure locate paperwork is valid on the day digging begins.

Soil and Water

• Ask whether a geotechnical report has been done or is recommended.
• Discuss how the crew will handle clay, rock or groundwater if they are found.
• Confirm whether a pump will be on site, especially in spring.
• Agree on how long the excavation can stay open before footings are poured.

Access and Site Layout

• Measure gates, side yards and overhead clearances.
• Decide where equipment will enter and where trucks will park.
• Choose a spot for spoil and material stockpiles away from the edge of the dig.
• Plan protection for driveways, lawns, gardens and nearby trees.

Budget and Contract

• Get a written quote that separates excavation, disposal, imported fill, backfill and grading.
• Ask how extra work, such as rock removal or extra hauling, will be priced.
• Confirm insurance and WSIB clearance before work starts.
• Agree on payment stages tied to finished work.

Communication

• Know who your on-site contact is and how to reach them.
• Tell neighbours when work will start and how long it should last.
• Ask the crew to flag anything unexpected before acting on it.
• Set a time for a walk-through when the dig is complete.

Finished Condition

• Agree on how backfill will be placed and compacted.
• Confirm the final grade will slope away from the house.
• Decide who removes leftover material and who restores lawns and hard surfaces.

Why It Matters

Most problems on residential digs are not caused by bad operators. They come from things nobody thought to ask about: a missing locate, a stockpile in the wrong place, or a quote that left out disposal. Running through a checklist before Ottawa excavation begins brings those issues to the surface while they are still cheap to fix.

Print this list, share it with your contractor and use it as the agenda for your pre-start meeting. A crew that handles Ottawa excavation work regularly will recognise most of the items and will probably add a few of their own.