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Build a legal, rentable suite and let your Ottawa home help pay its own mortgage. OGC designs, permits, and builds income suites, basement apartments, secondary suites, and coach houses, ready to earn from day one.
An income suite is a self-contained rental unit built into or beside your Ottawa home, a legal second unit with its own entrance, kitchen, and bathroom that a tenant pays to live in. It is one of the most reliable ways to turn the property you already own into monthly cash flow.
Because Ottawa now allows additional units on most lots, a well-built income suite can help pay your mortgage today and add significant resale value later. As a full design-build firm, OGC designs, permits, and builds a legal, rentable suite under one roof, so it is ready to earn from the day the tenant moves in.
An income suite has to be legal, rentable, and comfortable, all at once. Here is the design-build process OGC follows to deliver a suite that is ready to earn.
We look at what your lot allows, which type of income suite will earn the most, and what it will cost to build, so you can see the numbers before you commit to design.
We design a layout that rents well, a private entrance, an efficient kitchen and bath, and comfortable living space, then show it to you in 3D before we build.
A rentable suite has to be a legal additional dwelling unit, so it needs a City of Ottawa building permit and has to meet the Ontario Building Code for fire separation, sound, and egress. We handle all of it.
You get a detailed, fixed-price contract before construction begins, so you know your exact cost and can weigh it against the rent the suite will earn. Financing options can help fund the build.
One dedicated project manager runs the build: the separate entrance, the kitchen, fire and sound separation between the units, egress windows, and independent heating for the suite.
We walk the finished suite with you, pass the City's final inspection, and hand over a 7-year warranty. You get a legal, rent-ready unit and the peace of mind that it was built to last.
A sample of income suites, secondary suites, and rental units we have designed and built for homeowners and investors across Ottawa.
For over a decade, OGC has been one of Ottawa's most trusted income suite contractors and the city's most reviewed design-build firm, with 200+ verified reviews across Google, Houzz, and HomeStars.
A suite only earns if it is legal, comfortable, and durable. We build to the additional dwelling unit rules, use tenant-friendly finishes that hold up, and design layouts that command strong rent in the Ottawa market.
A single project manager runs your entire suite and stays reachable by phone or text the whole way through. No handoffs, no gaps, no wondering who is in charge.
Every income suite starts with full 3D renderings so you can see the finished, rentable unit before construction begins. Change it on screen, not on site.
You know your exact build cost before you start, so you can measure it against the rent your suite will earn. No hidden fees, no mid-project change orders, backed by our price-match guarantee.
OGC backs every income suite with a 7-year warranty, one of the strongest in Ottawa, so the unit that earns you rent is protected for years to come.
OGC is a member of the GOHBA, Tarion, RenoMark, CHBA, and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, and has been named Ottawa's Small Business of the Year. Our work has been featured on CTV, HGTV, and in Ottawa press.
A suite only earns if it is legal and it lasts. Here is what we manage so your income suite is fully approved, rentable, and built to hold tenants for years.
Most Ottawa lots can now hold up to three units in total, which means your home plus as many as two income suites, for example a basement apartment plus a coach house. We confirm exactly what your lot allows so you can build the most income the property supports.
A full kitchen and a private entrance are what turn a finished room into a legal additional dwelling unit you can rent. Building it legal protects your income, your insurance, and your resale value, and it is the only way to rent with confidence.
The Ontario Building Code requires a fire-resistant separation and sound control between two units, so neither household hears or endangers the other. Good sound separation is also what keeps tenants happy and staying longer.
Every bedroom needs a proper egress window, and a basement suite needs adequate ceiling height, often around 1.95 m (6 ft 4 in), with an allowance for existing homes. We confirm both before committing to a basement income suite, since they decide whether the space can be rented at all.
A rentable suite needs a building permit and a Change of Use review, its own heating and ventilation, and electrical to ESA standards. The separate entrance is often the biggest structural item. We handle the permits and coordinate every trade so the suite is fully approved and rent-ready.
A legal income suite typically costs $70,000 to $250,000 to build, depending on the type, and starts paying that back every month. Here is what Ottawa homeowners are seeing.
A basement income suite is the most affordable to build and the most common in Ottawa. An addition, a garage conversion, or a detached coach house costs more but can command higher rent.
A full kitchen, a bathroom, and a private entrance are what make the suite legal and rentable, and they are the biggest line items. A basement walkout entrance in particular is a major cost.
Fire and sound separation, independent heating, upgraded electrical, and the permit process all factor in. They are also what protect your income and keep good tenants in place.
Thinking of building to rent? Read our guide to building a rental property in Ottawa.
The questions Ottawa homeowners ask us most before building an income suite.
Most legal one and two-bedroom income suites in Ottawa rent for roughly $1,400 to $2,200 a month, with location, size, and finish level driving the range. A larger suite or a detached coach house can earn more. We give you a realistic rent range for your specific property at the consultation.
A legal income suite in Ottawa typically costs about $70,000 to $150,000 for a basement suite and $150,000 to $250,000 or more for an addition, garage conversion, or coach house. The kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance are the biggest cost drivers. See our guide to building a rental property in Ottawa.
Yes, when it is a legal additional dwelling unit. A suite built with the required permit, kitchen, separate entrance, fire separation, and egress can be rented long-term with confidence. Short-term rentals are treated differently and need a City host permit. We build every income suite to the legal standard so you can rent it without risk.
Yes. Creating a suite is a change of use that requires a City of Ottawa building permit and a review for Ontario Building Code compliance, including fire separation, sound, egress, and ventilation. OGC prepares the drawings with a registered designer and handles the entire permit process for you.
It depends on your lot and budget. A basement suite is the cheapest to build and the fastest to pay back. A larger addition or a detached coach house costs more but rents for more and adds the most resale value. We help you choose the option with the best return for your property.
Often, yes. Many owners fund a suite through a refinance or a home-equity line, and lenders will typically count a large share of the projected rent toward your mortgage qualification. There are also periodic federal and provincial programs aimed at secondary suites. We are glad to point you to the current options so you can plan the financing.
A basement income suite usually takes about 3 to 5 months of construction, plus design and permitting beforehand. An addition or a detached coach house takes longer. We give you a realistic schedule up front so you know when the suite can start earning.
OGC builds income suites and secondary suites across Ottawa and the surrounding region, including: