How Does Home Insurance Work In Ottawa?
When you get a home insurance quote in Ottawa with MyChoice, you’re receiving a comprehensive policy that goes beyond just the basics — including Guaranteed Replacement Cost, which ensures your home will be rebuilt to its original condition even if the cost exceeds your dwelling coverage limit.
Your quote is made up of two main pillars: Base Residence / Dwelling (covering your home, contents, liability, and standard perils) and Enhanced Water Protection (covering floods, sewer backup, and groundwater seepage). Together, they form a complete protection package for your property and belongings.
| Coverage Type | What’s Included? | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Base Residence / Dwelling | – Dwelling Coverage – Outbuildings (detached structures) – Contents – Personal Liability – Voluntary Medical Payments – Voluntary Property Damage – Basic Water Damage | $955 |
| Enhanced Water Protection | – Sewer Backup Endorsement – Ground Water Endorsement – Overland Water Endorsement – Broad Water Damage Endorsement | $190 |
| Coverage Total: | $1,145 |
*A comprehensive home insurance policy protects your property and belongings against all perils except those specifically excluded by the policy. This typically includes: fire and smoke damage, wind and hail damage, lightning strikes, burst pipes (depending on the situation), falling objects (like trees or branches), theft and burglaries, and vandalism.
Base Residence / Dwelling Coverages:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Coverage Amount/Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Dwelling Coverage | Covers the cost to rebuild your home after insured damage. | $1,000,000 |
| Outbuildings (detached structures) | Covers the cost to rebuild the detached structures (i.e. garages, sheds, fences). | $150,000 |
| Contents | Protects your belongings from damage or loss due to covered perils. | $750,000 |
| Personal Liability | Legal & medical costs if someone sues you for injury/property damage. | $1,000,000 |
| Voluntary Medical Payments | Pays limited medical expenses if someone is accidentally injured on your property, regardless of fault | $4,500 |
| Voluntary Property Damage | Covers small amounts for accidental damage you cause to someone else’s property (or damage caused by a minor in your care | $1,500 |
| Basic Water Damage | Protects against sudden and accidental internal water damage (e.g., burst pipes or overflowing appliances | $1,000,000 |
*Please note that the average coverage limits in the tables above and below are based on the dwelling coverage of $1 million and can vary by house and carrier.
Enhanced Water Protection:
| Coverage Type | Coverage Details | Average Coverage Amount/Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Sewer Backup Endorsement | Pays for damage caused by sewage or septic systems backing up into the home. | $100,000 |
| Ground Water Endorsement | Adds protection against damage from ground‑water seepage, which is not covered by standard policies. | $250,000 |
| Overland Water Endorsement | Covers damage from freshwater entering your home from rivers, lakes or heavy rainfall. This is typically optional and recommended for homes in flood‑prone areas. | $250,000 |
| Broad Water Damage Endorsement | A catch‑all rider that may combine overland water, sewer‑backup and ground‑water coverage and may also include protection for seepage or ice‑damming (depending on the insurer) | $250,000 |
*MyChoice recommends getting the enhanced water protection package if you live in Ottawa, as it’s identified as one of the most flood-prone cities in Ontario in our latest study.
Home Insurance Price in Ottawa by Dwelling Type
Below is the average home insurance price in Ottawa, categorized by dwelling type:
| Type of Dwelling | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Detached | $1,145 |
| Semi-Detached | $1,054 |
| Freehold Townhouse | $985 |
Does Where You Live in Ottawa Affect Your Home Insurance?
Yes, where you live in Ottawa can affect your home insurance. Home insurance companies consider many different factors when computing your quotes, and one of these major factors is your location in Ottawa. Here are some ways that where you live in Ottawa may affect your home insurance premiums:
Postal Codes With the Most Expensive Home Insurance in Ottawa
K1K and K1R postal codes have above-average home insurance rates in Ottawa.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| K1K | $1,175 |
| K1R | $1,164 |
Postal Codes With the Least Expensive Home Insurance in Ottawa
The following postal codes K2P, K1P and K1N have some of the cheapest home insurance rates in Ottawa.
| Postal Code | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| K2P | $1,122 |
| K1P | $1,107 |
| K1N | $1,098 |
How Ottawa Home Insurance Rates Compare to Nearby Cities
Ottawa’s home insurance rates are relatively low for Eastern Ontario, noticeably cheaper than Pembroke and Cornwall but close to Kingston and Peterborough.
| City | Average Annual Home Insurance Premium |
|---|---|
| Ottawa | $1,145 |
| Pembroke | $1,831 |
| Kingston | $1,132 |
| Cornwall | $1,501 |
| Brockville | $1,246 |
| Peterborough | $1,204 |
How Ottawa Home Insurance Rates Compare to Provincial Average
The average cost of home insurance in Ottawa is $1,145, less than the provincial average. Your home insurance premium will vary based on several factors like your neighbourhood’s claims history, proximity to water sources like the Ottawa River, and average real estate prices in your area.
Common Home Insurance Discounts in Ottawa
Certain insurers offer home insurance discounts that can significantly reduce your premium — sometimes by up to 20% when combined. Please note that these discounts depend on your property type, condition, the insurer and even external conditions like natural disasters or crime rates in your specific area. Talk to your broker or insurer to learn more about what discounts they offer in your area.
Here’s a look at the most common discounts you can get on home insurance in Ottawa:
| Discount Type | Average Percentage Savings | Average Discount Value |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Line (Home + Auto) | 11.4% | $131 |
| Claims-Free Discount | 16.5% | $189 |
| Alarm System (Burglar) | 7.5% | $86 |
| Alarm System (Fire) | 5.0% | $57 |
| Membership Discount (CAA) | 10.0% | $115 |
| Non-Smoker Discount | 7.5% | $86 |
What Risks Affect Homeowners in Ottawa?
Ottawa homeowners are exposed to different risks that may damage or even destroy their homes and belongings. If you own a home in Ottawa, these are some common risks that you should keep in mind before settling on a home insurance policy:
Probability of Significant Disasters in Ottawa
On September 21, 2018, a cluster of six tornadoes tore through the Ottawa–Gatineau region, with an EF-3 causing major destruction near Dunrobin.
The following MyChoice probability scores for Ottawa are based on historical data from the Canadian Disaster Database (CDD), which has tracked major disasters in Canada since 1950. These scores represent the relative likelihood that each type of significant event could occur at least once in Ottawa over the next decade. The comparison is made against both other regions in Canada and other types of events, helping illustrate where the greatest risks to homeowners may lie.
According to the CDD, an event is classified as significant if it results in 10 or more deaths, 100 or more people affected (injured, evacuated, or left homeless), an appeal for national or international assistance, historical importance, or severe damage that prevents a community from recovering on its own.
Housing Data in Ottawa
Wondering how many people own a home versus a condo in Ottawa or how old the average Ottawa home is? Here’s a brief overview of Ottawa housing information according to the 2021 Census of Population:
Homeownership Rate by Age in Ottawa
Homeownership in Ottawa is quite similar to other large cities in Canada, with stronger rates of home ownership associated with older age groups such as 55 or above. On the other end of the spectrum, home ownership rates are less for younger residents of the city, such as 15 – 24 which is at 11.8%.
| Age Group | Homeownership Rate |
|---|---|
| 15 to 24 | 11.8% |
| 25 to 39 | 46.1% |
| 40 to 54 | 69.8% |
| 55 to 74 | 74.5% |
| 75 and over | 72.7% |
What Is Not Included in a Typical Home Insurance Policy?
Even if you’ve opted for a highly comprehensive home insurance policy, there are some risks that insurers explicitly don’t include as a covered peril. These are called “exclusions” by home insurers.
Here are the most common home insurance exclusions:
This is by no means an exclusive list of risks typically excluded from a home insurance policy in Ottawa. Talk to your home insurance provider to see what’s covered by your policy in case of loss or damage.
Why Do I Need Home Insurance in Ottawa?
You don’t technically “need” home insurance in Ottawa unless it’s a mortgage condition from your lender. However, you may still want to get home insurance as protection from unexpected events and for your peace of mind. Here are some important reasons why you should get Ottawa home insurance:
How You Can Get Cheap Home Insurance in Ottawa
If you’re trying to save money on your preferred home insurance coverage in Ottawa, visit our Ontario page for practical tips.