Home › Garage builds
Garage builds in Ottawa
A garage looks like a simple building, which is why so many are built badly: foundations that heave, slabs that crack, walls that let exhaust into the house.
- Liability insurance and WSIB coverage
- 5-year warranty on construction
- 2-year warranty on painting
- Free in-home consultation
Garage builds
What we build
A garage looks like a simple building, which is why so many are built badly: foundations that heave, slabs that crack, walls that let exhaust into the house. Carleton Prime builds attached and detached garages across Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley, on city lots and rural properties, as a project on its own or alongside an addition.
- Attached garages, single and double
- Detached garages and workshops
- Insulated and heated garages for year-round use
- Garages with a room or storage above
- Wiring for an electric vehicle charger, done by a licensed electrical contractor with an Electrical Safety Authority permit
“Indiana and his crew renovated a bathroom for me and the process was seamless, respectful and completed with extreme care and quality. I consider Carleton Prime the best construction company in Ottawa. I will use them for all future projects. Very pleased, would highly recommend.”
Zoning first
Where a garage can go on your lot, and how big and tall it can be, is set by zoning, not by what fits. Setbacks from the lot lines, lot coverage and height limits all apply. We check them for your property before anything is designed, and we apply for the building permit on your behalf.
Built for frost and exhaust
A garage foundation has to stand up to frost, and the Ontario Building Code sets the rules for it. The slab needs a proper base and a slope so meltwater from the car runs out the door, not toward the walls.
On an attached garage, the wall and ceiling between the garage and the house, and the door between them, have to keep exhaust out of your living space. The Building Code sets how that separation is built, and it is not a place to cut corners.
A garage and an addition together
Many projects pair a garage with living space beside or above it. If that is your plan, our home additions page covers the addition side. Because Carleton Prime also does the framing, roofing, siding, drywall and painting, one company builds and finishes both.
Whole job or one part
The whole project, or any part of it
Carleton Prime can take on the whole project, turnkey, or just the part you need: one phase, or one trade such as the framing, drywall, tile, flooring or painting. Builders, general contractors, architects, designers and engineers can also bring us in as a subcontractor and an extra, experienced member of the team.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a garage in Ottawa?
Yes. Only very small accessory buildings, such as a shed of 15 square metres or less, are exempt, so any normal garage needs a building permit, and an attached garage counts as an addition. It also has to meet zoning for where it sits on the lot. We apply for the permits for you.
How much does it cost to build a garage?
We quote each garage on its scope. Size, attached or detached, the foundation, insulation and heating, a room above, and the siding and roofing you choose all affect the price.
Can you build a detached garage on a rural lot?
Yes. We build garages and workshops on city and rural lots across Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley.
Can the garage be heated?
Yes. Insulation and heating are easier to plan in from the start than to add later.
Can you add an EV charger?
We plan for it, and the wiring is done by a licensed electrical contractor with an Electrical Safety Authority permit.
Can you build a garage with a room above it?
Often, yes, depending on zoning and the design. It is planned with the garage from the start, including the separation the Building Code requires. Our additions page covers the living-space side.
What warranty does a garage carry?
Five years on the construction, and two years on any painting.
Related services
Related service
Home additions
Room additions and second storeys that fit your house and lot.
Learn more
Related service
Framing
New homes, additions, garages and basements, framed to the drawings.
Learn more
Related service
Decks and fences
Decks, porches and fences built to last through Ottawa winters.
Learn moreSources
The permit, Building Code and bylaw points on this page come from these authorities. Rules change, so check the current version before relying on any of it.
Ottawa renovation and construction
Start your project with Carleton Prime
Every project starts with a free in-home consultation. Tell us about your home and what you want to do.