Paving a driveway in Ottawa costs roughly $4 to $9 per square foot for asphalt in 2026, which works out to about $4,000 to $9,000 for a typical two-car residential driveway of 800 to 1,000 square feet. Resurfacing an existing asphalt driveway that still has a sound base is cheaper — usually $3 to $5 per square foot, or $2,500 to $5,000 — while a full tear-out and rebuild with new granular base runs $6 to $9 per square foot. Across Ontario the ranges are similar, though Toronto and the GTA typically sit 10–20% higher than Ottawa, and small-town Eastern Ontario can come in slightly lower. Concre...
Paving contractors price by the square foot, so measuring your driveway is the fastest way to a ballpark. In Ottawa for 2026, new asphalt on a properly prepared base runs about $6 to $9 per square foot. An overlay or resurface — new asphalt laid over an existing driveway that's still structurally sound — costs about $3 to $5 per square foot because there's no excavation or base work. Broom-finished concrete runs roughly $12 to $18 per square foot, stamped or exposed-aggregate concrete $16 to $24...
A single-car driveway (roughly 400–500 sq ft) in asphalt lands around $2,500–$4,500. A standard two-car driveway (800–1,000 sq ft) runs about $4,800–$9,000. A long rural laneway of 2,000+ sq ft can reach $12,000–$18,000 in asphalt, and considerably more in concrete or interlock.
Ottawa's frost depth is roughly 1.5 metres, and the freeze-thaw cycle here is among the harshest in Canada — the ground can swell and settle dozens of times between November and April. That makes the granular base under your driveway more important than the asphalt on top. A properly built Ottawa driveway needs 8 to 12 inches of compacted Granular B and A base, sometimes more on the region's heavy Leda clay soils, which hold water and heave badly. Excavating and hauling away that depth of materi...
Beyond size and material, several factors move an Ottawa driveway quote meaningfully. Tearing out an existing asphalt or concrete driveway adds roughly $1 to $3 per square foot, with concrete costing more to break up and haul. Poor drainage or a driveway that slopes toward the garage may require regrading, a trench drain, or a catch basin, adding $800 to $3,000. Tight access in older neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro, and Sandy Hill means smaller equipment and more hand work. Widening a dr...
Budget $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot for driveway sealing — about $200 to $450 for a two-car driveway. New asphalt should cure at least 6–12 months before its first seal, then be resealed roughly every 2–3 years in Ottawa's climate.
Repaving an existing driveway in the same footprint generally doesn't require a City of Ottawa permit. However, if you are creating a new driveway, widening one, or altering the entrance where it meets the road, you need a Private Approach (entrance) permit from the City. That permit covers the portion of the driveway within the municipal right-of-way and, in rural areas, the culvert under your entrance — culvert supply and installation typically adds $1,200 to $3,500. Ottawa zoning bylaws also ...
Asphalt is the default in Ottawa for good reason: it's the cheapest to install, flexes with frost movement instead of cracking, and can be resurfaced rather than replaced. Its downside is maintenance — sealing every few years and a realistic 15–20 year lifespan. Concrete costs roughly two to three times more upfront and is more prone to surface scaling from road salt, but a well-built, air-entrained slab can last 30+ years and offers a cleaner look. Interlocking pavers are the most expensive and...
The ranges above are planning numbers — the only way to know your real cost is itemized written quotes from local paving contractors. Measure your driveway's length and width first, and note whether an existing surface needs removal. A quality quote will state the square footage, excavation depth, inches and type of granular base, compacted asphalt thickness, edge and grading details, disposal, and whether permits and locates are included. Get at least three quotes and be skeptical of any bid dr...
In 2026, paving a driveway in Ottawa costs about $4–$9 per square foot for asphalt, or roughly $4,000–$9,000 for a typical 800–1,000 sq ft two-car driveway. Resurfacing an existing sound driveway is cheaper at $3–$5 per square foot, while a full excavation and rebuild runs $6–$9 per square foot.
Across Ontario, asphalt driveway paving generally runs $4–$9 per square foot in 2026. Toronto and the GTA typically sit 10–20% above Ottawa pricing, while rural Eastern Ontario can come in slightly lower. Concrete runs $12–$20 per square foot and interlocking pavers $18–$30.
A standard two-car driveway of 800–1,000 square feet costs about $4,800–$9,000 in asphalt in Ottawa. The same driveway in broom-finished concrete would run roughly $10,000–$18,000, and in interlocking pavers about $14,000–$30,000.
Resurfacing is significantly cheaper — about $3–$5 per square foot versus $6–$9 for a full replacement. However, an overlay only works if the existing granular base is stable and the driveway drains properly. If there is heaving, deep alligator cracking, or standing water, a full rebuild is the only lasting fix.
Repaving an existing driveway in the same footprint usually doesn't require a permit. Creating a new driveway, widening one, or changing the entrance at the road requires a City of Ottawa Private Approach (entrance) permit, and rural properties may need a culvert installed. A free Ontario One Call utility locate is required before any digging.