How much does it cost to install an electrical sub-panel in a new attached garage in Ottawa?

Installing an electrical sub-panel in a new attached garage in Ottawa typically costs between $1,800 and $4,500, depending on the panel size, the distance from your main panel, and how much finish work is involved in running the feeder cable.

A standard attached garage sub-panel is 60 amps, which comfortably handles lighting, a garage door opener, a few general-purpose outlets, and one or two dedicated circuits for power tools or a small compressor. A 60-amp sub-panel with installation usually runs $1,800 to $2,800 in Ottawa's current market. If you want to future-proof for an electric vehicle charger, you should step up to a 100-amp sub-panel, which costs $2,500 to $4,500 installed. A Level 2 EV charger draws 30 to 50 amps on its own, so a 60-amp panel will not leave you much room for anything else if you add one later.

The sub-panel itself is a relatively inexpensive component, usually $150 to $400 for a 60 to 100-amp residential panel. The bulk of the cost is labour and materials for running the feeder cable from your main electrical panel to the garage. If your main panel is on the same side of the house as the new garage, the run is short and straightforward. If the panel is on the opposite side of the house or in the basement, the electrician may need to route the cable through the ceiling, along the foundation wall, or through the crawl space, which adds time and material.

The feeder cable for a 60-amp sub-panel is typically 6/3 copper or 4/3 aluminum, and for 100 amps you need 2/3 copper or 1/0 aluminum. Copper is more expensive but easier to work with in tight spaces. For a typical 30 to 50-foot run, the cable alone costs $200 to $600.

Before any electrical work begins, your electrician needs to confirm that your main panel has enough spare capacity to feed the new sub-panel. If your main service is 100 amps, which is common in older Ottawa homes, you may not have room to add a 60-amp sub-panel without upgrading your main service to 200 amps. A service upgrade is a separate project that runs $3,000 to $6,000 and involves coordination with Hydro Ottawa for the meter and service entrance.

All electrical work in Ottawa requires a permit from the Electrical Safety Authority. Your licensed electrician pulls the ESA permit, and ESA sends an inspector to verify the work meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code. The permit fee is typically $100 to $250 depending on the scope. Do not let anyone do this work without an ESA permit. Unpermitted electrical work is a safety hazard, a code violation, and can create serious problems when you sell your home or make an insurance claim.

Make sure your electrician carries valid WSIB coverage and that their licence is current with ESA. You can verify both online before signing a contract.

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