Interlock is the default hard surface in Ottawa for a good reason: it moves. A jointed surface accommodates freeze–thaw movement that cracks a monolithic slab, and an individual paver can be lifted and reset where a concrete pour has to be broken out. That is the theory. Whether it actually works on your property depends almost entirely on the base.
Base depth is the whole argument
A patio and a driveway are not the same build. A driveway carries vehicle loads over ground that heaves every winter, and it needs a deeper compacted granular base, placed and compacted in lifts rather than dumped and rolled once. When two quotes for the same driveway differ by thousands, this is usually where the money went — or didn't.
Three questions that separate a real quote from a cheap one:
- How deep is the granular base, and is it compacted in lifts?
- What edge restraint is used on unsupported edges? Without it, the outer courses spread and the pattern opens up.
- What goes in the joints, and is geotextile used over the subgrade? On Ottawa clay, separation fabric keeps the base from pumping into the clay.
Costs
| Tier | Per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Basic concrete paver, simple shape | $18–22 |
| Mid-range: better paver, borders, driveway base | $25–30 |
| Premium: natural stone, curves, steps, drainage | $30–40+ |
Typical driveways land at $6,000–12,000 or more. Small areas cost more per square foot than large ones, because mobilisation and edge work don't scale down. Cost detail →
What the City allows on the access
Section 601(5) of the Zoning By-law lists what an access may be surfaced with:
- Asphalt, cement or permeable pavement
- Honeycomb or turf blocks
- Cobblestones, or a similar stable, dust-free material — this is where interlocking pavers sit
- Gravel, but only in rural areas
A pedestrian access has to be a firm, stable, continuous surface. Stepping stones and other loose rock are not a permitted access in the right of way, however good they look in a catalogue.
Interlocking pavers sit in the "cobblestones or similar stable, dust-free material" category, so they are permitted for the access — but if you are constructing or modifying the access you still need an access permit first. Permit guide →
Any business that installs, alters or paves hard landscaping in Ottawa — including a driveway or walkway access — must hold a City of Ottawa hardscaping contractor licence. It is a straight question worth asking every company that quotes you, alongside proof of insurance. A crew that cannot answer it is telling you something.
Season and lead time
Ottawa's installation season runs roughly April to mid-November. Base and paver work can continue into the first half of November, but polymeric sand needs warmth and dry conditions to cure, and once the subgrade freezes there is no way to compact it properly. December to March is design, quoting and permit season — which is the right time to get a spring job organised rather than joining the April queue.
Plan on 6–10 weeks from signed quote to crew on site. Calendars in this trade fill from July onward.
Where we work
Ottawa, plus the eastern townships. Full service area →
Get your interlock job quoted
One written price after a measure. We'll tell you the base spec we're pricing, so you can compare quotes properly.