How do I handle the electrical disconnect and reconnect if I'm tearing down and rebuilding my garage in Ottawa?

You cannot handle the electrical disconnect and reconnect yourself — this work must be performed by an ESA-licensed electrician with proper permits. In Ontario, all electrical work including disconnections and reconnections requires an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permit and must be completed by a licensed professional.

Here's the proper sequence for your garage rebuild project in Ottawa. Before any demolition begins, contact an ESA-licensed electrician to safely disconnect the electrical service to your existing garage. This involves shutting off power at the main panel, removing the feed wires, and properly capping or removing the electrical connections. The electrician will also coordinate with Hydro Ottawa if the garage has a separate meter or if the service entrance needs modification. Never attempt to disconnect live electrical circuits yourself — this is extremely dangerous and will void your home insurance if something goes wrong.

During the demolition and construction phase, your electrician should inspect the existing electrical feed from your house to determine if it can be reused or needs upgrading. Many older Ottawa garages were wired with minimal electrical service — perhaps just a single 15-amp circuit for lighting and a garage door opener. If you're building a modern garage that will include heating, multiple outlets, power tools, and potentially an EV charger, you'll likely need a 60-amp or larger sub-panel. This is also the perfect time to upgrade to 200-amp main service if your house is still on an older 100-amp panel.

The reconnection happens after your new garage framing is complete and the electrical rough-in is finished but before insulation and drywall installation. Your electrician will install the new sub-panel, run circuits for lighting, outlets (all garage outlets require GFCI protection), garage door opener, heating system, and any 240-volt circuits you've planned for. The ESA inspector must approve the rough-in electrical before you can close up the walls. Final electrical connection and ESA approval happens after drywall and finishing work is complete.

Critical timing consideration for Ottawa: Plan your electrical work around the construction schedule and ESA inspection availability. ESA inspections can take several days to schedule, and you cannot proceed with insulation or drywall until the rough-in electrical passes inspection. Also, if your garage rebuild extends into winter months, ensure your electrician can complete the reconnection work in cold weather — some electrical materials and connections are more challenging to install in extreme cold.

One important cost consideration: if your garage rebuild requires upgrading your main electrical service or installing a new sub-panel, budget $2,000 to $4,000 for electrical work beyond basic reconnection. This includes the ESA permits, panel hardware, circuit installation, and labour. While this seems expensive, proper electrical infrastructure is essential for a modern Ottawa garage, especially if you plan to heat the space or charge an electric vehicle.

When you're ready to hire an ESA-licensed electrician for your garage rebuild, you can browse electrical contractors through the Ottawa Construction Network directory to compare local professionals who specialize in garage and residential electrical work.