What does minor repairs mean in Ottawa's hardscaping licence?

The City's hardscaping licence by-law (By-law 2026-222) carves out "minor repairs or minor alterations" from the licence requirement, but we found no definition of what that phrase covers in the by-law or in any City guidance we reviewed.

That gap matters in practice. The licence applies to businesses installing or altering hard landscaping features on private property, with the by-law naming steps, walkways and patios as examples of covered features. A full rebuild of brick steps may fall within that scope. A single cracked tread or a loose stone reset is harder to place. Without a definition, there is no reliable way to say where the line falls between a minor repair and work that needs the licence.

The City can draw that line. Before work starts, ask the contractor directly whether they hold the City hardscaping licence and whether they consider the job a minor repair that falls outside it. Then confirm with the City whether the scope of work you are describing counts as a minor repair under the by-law. The City publishes a list of current hardscaping licence holders, which you can check independently.

If the licence does apply, the 2026 fee is $319 and the licence expires each October 31. The City's licence page lists its insurance and other requirements.

One line worth checking in any quote: ask whether disposal of old masonry material is included, since that cost can appear or disappear between an estimate and a final invoice.