My Nepean brick steps are pulling away from the house, why?

A mason at the wall can tell you what is causing the separation; there are several possible explanations and the right one depends on what is actually happening below and around the steps.

What a mason will look at includes how the steps are supported below frost, whether the footing has moved, how the steps connect to the house foundation, the condition of the mortar joints, and whether water has been getting in and freezing in the joint between the steps and the wall.

On permits, entrance steps can require a City of Ottawa building permit where a structure provides access to the building or where there is more than 600 mm difference in elevation between adjacent surfaces. The Building Code (9.8.9.2.(3)) also requires that foundations for exterior steps be placed at a depth below ground that meets Section 9.12; ask the mason how the steps are currently supported below frost and whether the repair or rebuild touches the footing. For the permit question, ask the City directly (buildingpermits@ottawa.ca). Separately, steps and walkways are named features under the City's hardscaping contractor licence; ask the contractor whether this job requires that licence, and ask the City whether a repair of this size counts as a minor repair, which the by-law excludes. We found no definition of minor repair in the by-law.

A written quote for this job should cover the scope of work (repair versus partial or full rebuild), how the steps are supported below grade, mortar type and joint profile, how dust will be controlled if joints are cut or ground, matching brick or stone, cleanup and disposal, and who is responsible for confirming permit requirements with the City.

If the property is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or sits within a heritage conservation district, work affecting the steps may need heritage approval before anything else proceeds. Check your designation by-law or your district's heritage conservation district plan first, then ask the City's heritage staff to confirm what consent is needed before work begins.