In short
- ESA's May 2025 bulletin: outlets within 1.5 m of a sink, tub or shower, and outdoor outlets within 2.5 m of grade, need Class A GFCI protection.
- AFCI protection covers almost every receptacle circuit in a home; ESA names four exemptions, kitchen counters and the kitchen fridge among them.
- HomeStars' Canada-wide 2026 guide puts an outlet near an existing circuit at $150–$350 and says GFCI outlets fall in a similar range.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet near an existing circuit; GFCI outlets in a similar range | $150–$350 | HomeStars Canada-wide 2026 guide |
| GFCI outlet installation | $70–$140 | RenoQuotes, Quebec-based quote site, May 2025, per outlet |
| Weatherproof outdoor outlet | $150–$600 | RenoQuotes, May 2025, per outlet |
| AFCI or GFCI breaker, part alone | $30–$100 | HomeStars 2026; labour extra |
| Electrician's first hour on a call | $100–$200 | HomeStars 2026; travel and assessment |
Sources. HomeStars, Electrician Hourly Rate in Canada: 2026 Guide, updated 21.08.2026, seen 29.10.2026. RenoQuotes, Electrician Prices: How Much to Budget For?, published 02.05.2025, seen 29.10.2026. Rules: ESA Bulletin 26-18-15, AFCI and GFCI in a dwelling unit, issued May 2025; ESA Bulletin 26-29-6, Replacement and alterations in dwelling units, issued May 2025; ESA Bulletin 2-3-19, Notification not required, issued May 2025; ESA Flash 25-05-FL, Knob and tube wiring and Flash 25-16-FL, kitchen split receptacles, May 2025; ESA, Testing your outlet IQ; ESA podcast, Episode 3: AFCI and GFCI, transcript; ESA, Notifications and inspections; ESA, Finding the right contractor, all seen 29.10.2026. Contracts: Ontario, guide for home renovation businesses, seen 29.10.2026.
Two devices, two kinds of fault
A GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) cuts power when current leaks to ground: the shock risk near water and outdoors. An AFCI (arc-fault circuit interrupter) cuts power when it senses arcing in the wiring or a cord: the fire risk inside walls.
Since 2015, Ontario has required the combination AFCI, which catches series and parallel arcing along the whole circuit, cords included. Either can be a breaker in the panel or an outlet on the wall, and that choice drives much of the price.
Where GFCI protection is required
From ESA’s May 2025 bulletins, for standard outlets (CSA 5-15R and 5-20R):
- Near water. Within 1.5 m of a sink with a drain pipe, a bathtub or a shower stall.
- Outdoors. Every outlet within 2.5 m of finished grade. A porch or balcony depends on enclosure and height.
- Carports. Outdoors, unless walls, doors or windows close over 60% of the perimeter; then it is a garage.
- Block heaters. Outdoor block heater outlets need GFCI, and ESA gives harsh winter conditions as the reason.
A replaced outdoor cover must meet the wet-location rule. Outside-wall outlets can go in one request with outdoor lighting.
Where AFCI protection is required
ESA’s consumer page says AFCI protection is needed throughout the home, with a few exceptions. An ESA technical advisor lists four: the required outlet within 1 m of the bathroom sink when no other outlet shares its circuit, the kitchen fridge, kitchen counter outlets, and a dedicated sump pump on a single outlet. Everything else in the dwelling needs it, and ESA’s bulletin names a dedicated microwave, the dishwasher and a garbage disposal.
Older houses: the rules follow the work
The code applies where work happens:
- Replacing an outlet. A bathroom or outdoor outlet must come back GFCI-protected, and any replaced 5-15R or 5-20R outlet must be tamper-resistant.
- Adding outlets to an old circuit. The extension needs AFCI protection, with an AFCI outlet at the first added outlet. ESA recommends an AFCI breaker for the whole circuit.
- Older panels. Where combination AFCI breakers are unavailable, ESA permits an older-style AFCI breaker paired with an AFCI outlet at the first outlet.
Two-prong outlets on knob-and-tube or other ungrounded wiring need care. ESA’s notice allows a three-prong outlet there only with a bond conductor or GFCI protection, and a GFCI gives the third slot no ground. ESA notes surge protectors for computer or entertainment gear need it. See knob-and-tube.
Breaker in the panel or outlet on the wall
An outlet device protects its own plug and the outlets wired after it, so one at the start of a run covers the rest. A breaker protects the whole circuit from the panel. HomeStars puts the breaker part alone at $30–$100, and it must suit your panel; some older panels have no combination AFCI breaker. An AFCI outlet as the first device is allowed only when the run from the panel is in metal raceway, armoured cable or conduit, so the wiring decides as much as the budget.
What sets the price and what the quote should list
The count drives the total. HomeStars puts an outlet near an existing circuit at $150–$350 and says GFCI outlets fall in a similar range; a Quebec quote site lists $70–$140 per outlet. The first hour of a call runs $100–$200 on HomeStars, so one visit for every outlet pays that hour once.
The quote should name each location, panel or outlet protection for each, the device type, outdoor covers, any ESA notification and HST. Ontario’s guide for home renovation businesses says a contract over $50 needs a written agreement, and a bill may not run more than 10% above the estimate without a signed change.
When the new device trips
ESA’s advisor says most trips have a cause; early outdoor GFCIs tripped on block heaters for a real reason. AFCI nuisance trips do happen. ESA also wants them tested at regular intervals. Repeat trips: breaker keeps tripping.
Who takes your request
Ottawa Electric Desk sends your request to one independent local electrical company. It calls you, checks what your outlets and panel need, and does the work if you agree on the price.
Questions to ask the company
- Will you protect each circuit at the panel or at the first outlet, and why for my panel?
- Does my panel maker still sell combination AFCI breakers, and if not, what will you use?
- Which outlets on my list does the code require you to change, and which are my choice?
- Does the job need an ESA notification, and is the fee in your price?
- What is your ECRA/ESA licence number, and is the total with HST in writing?
Have this ready for the call
- A room-by-room list: bathroom, kitchen counter, basement bar, outside walls, garage, driveway
- A photo of the panel door label and of the breakers, cover left on
- Close photos of the outlets in question, showing two or three holes and any test buttons
- What trips, and when: the block heater on cold mornings, the microwave, a basement freezer
- The build year, and any knob-and-tube or two-prong outlets you know about
Questions people ask
We are replacing the panel. Do all circuits get AFCI breakers?
The code leaves that to you. ESA’s bulletin says a replaced or upgraded panel triggers AFCI only on circuits that gain new outlets. ESA still recommends arc-fault protection for existing wiring, so ask for the price both ways.
My kitchen counter has split outlets. Can they become GFCI?
Split receptacles come in no GFCI version. ESA’s May 2025 flash notice gives two routes: a 2-pole Class A GFCI breaker, or a tamper-resistant GFCI outlet for each half, fed by a separate line of the existing three-wire circuit (a single split outlet gets a second GFCI outlet added on the counter).
The basement beer fridge sits on an outlet. Does it need protection?
An ESA technical advisor says on ESA’s contractor podcast that a fridge outside a kitchen needs AFCI protection. A bar sink and a fridge do not make a room a kitchen under the code.
Does changing an outlet to a GFCI need an ESA notification?
ESA’s bulletin exempts a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) who swaps a receptacle for a Class A GFCI receptacle. Replacing a breaker in the panel, AFCI or GFCI included, needs a notification filed.
Is a detached garage or a shed covered by the AFCI rule?
ESA’s bulletin leaves circuits feeding a landscape, garage or shed outlet away from the house outside the AFCI rule. An attached garage counts as part of the home, ESA says on its podcast.
