Sump Pump Installation in Toronto — Licensed Installers and the Net Cost After the Subsidy
The Toronto-specific facts: the licence the installer must hold, where the pump may discharge, the permit line, the real installed prices, and what the City’s 80% leaves you paying.
Program facts verified September 4, 2026 against toronto.ca. Programs can change at any time — confirm with the City before signing a contract.
Quick answer
Replacing a sump pump in an existing pit costs $800–$1,750 installed in Toronto; after the City pays 80% (up to $2,250) you pay about $160–$350. A first-time install with a new pit is $2,000–$4,200, about $400–$1,950 net. Battery backup carries its own subsidy of up to $300 ($2,550 combined). The installer must hold a T94, T92, T87 or T85 City licence and the pump must discharge onto a permeable surface at least two metres from the foundation.
What you pay, after the City’s share
| Job | Installed | City pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pump replacement into an existing pit, installed | $800–$1,750 | 80%, up to $2,250 | $160–$350 |
| New pit + pump (first-time install) | $2,000–$4,200 | 80%, up to $2,250 | $400–$1,950 |
| Battery backup (added to either job) | see cost page | 80%, up to $300 | — |
Net figures are computed from our verified Toronto price ranges and the registry caps (80% of the invoice, to the per-item maximum). Battery-backup system prices, discharge extensions and the full factor list are on the sump pump cost page. The City’s whole program is capped at $6,650 per property across all eligible work.
Who is allowed to install it
For the subsidy, the installer must hold a City of Toronto business licence in one of four classes — T94 Plumbing Contractor, T92 Plumbing and Heating Contractor, T87 Drain Contractor or T85 Building Renovator. The licence number goes on the application. Look it up on the City’s licence search before you sign, and get two itemised quotes — the subsidy pays a share of the invoice, so the invoice matters.
Where the pump may discharge
Onto a permeable surface — lawn, garden or gravel — at least two metres from the foundation wall. That is a condition of the subsidy, and your application must include photos of the pump and the exterior discharge pipe. It also reflects the City’s Foundation Drainage Policy, in force since January 1, 2022, which expects groundwater to be managed on the property rather than connected to the sewer. Ask the installer to show you on the lot where the line will run and where the water will land; a discharge that pools at the wall goes straight back into the weeping tile.
Permit
Toronto Building’s standalone drain permit fee schedule lists “sumps complete with pumps” on the same line as backwater valves, so a first-time pit and pump can fall under a drain permit — confirm with your contractor for your job. Replacing a pump in an existing pit is typically a half-day job; a new pit means cutting the slab and setting a basin, which is where the higher range comes from.
Battery backup: the part that matters in a storm
The storms that flood Toronto basements are the storms that cut the power. A pump with no backup stops exactly when the water is rising. The City added a separate $300 subsidy for battery backup in the May 1, 2026 expansion — including a retrofit to a pump you already have — and it can go on the same application as the pump.
Applying, in order
- Confirm the installer’s licence class (T94 / T92 / T87 / T85) and get two itemised quotes.
- Agree the discharge route — permeable surface, two metres or more from the foundation.
- Have the pump and the battery backup installed; keep the itemised, paid invoice.
- Photograph the pump and the exterior discharge pipe.
- Apply within two years of the installation date (one year for work completed before November 12, 2025).
Full eligibility, the owner and dwelling rules and the other eligible items are on the Toronto sump pump subsidy guide.
Next step
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Check if a screened contractor serves my area →FAQ
Who is allowed to install a sump pump for the Toronto subsidy?
A contractor holding a City of Toronto business licence in one of four classes: Plumbing Contractor (T94), Plumbing and Heating Contractor (T92), Drain Contractor (T87) or Building Renovator (T85). Verify the licence on the City’s site before signing — the subsidy application checks it, and an unlicensed installer means no subsidy.
Where does the pump have to discharge in Toronto?
Onto a permeable surface — lawn, garden or gravel — at least two metres from the foundation wall. That is a condition of the subsidy, and you must submit photos of the pump and the exterior discharge pipe with the application. The City’s foundation drainage policy expects groundwater to be managed on the property rather than sent to the sanitary sewer.
Do I need a permit for a sump pump in Toronto?
Toronto Building’s standalone drain permit fee schedule lists “sumps complete with pumps” alongside backwater valves, so a first-time pit and pump can fall under a drain permit — ask your contractor to confirm for your job. The subsidy itself asks for the installation photos, the itemised paid invoice and the installer’s licence number.
How much do I actually pay after the subsidy?
The City pays 80% of the invoiced cost up to a per-item maximum — one amount for the pump, a separate amount for battery backup. The net figures on this page are computed from our verified Toronto price ranges and the registry caps; the exact number depends on your invoice.
How long do I have to apply?
Two years from the installation date for work completed on or after November 12, 2025 (one year for earlier work). Apply once, with the invoice, the photos and the licence details; the pump and the battery backup go on the same application.
Related
Sources
- City of Toronto — Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. Page modified June 18, 2026 (re-read September 4 and 11, 2026). Used for: eligible sump pump work, 80% / per-item maximums, discharge to a permeable surface ≥ 2 m from the foundation, eligible licence types T94 / T92 / T87 / T85, photo requirement, two-year application window.
- City of Toronto — Toronto Building — Backwater Valve — building permit application guide (standalone plumbing, mechanical and drains). Page modified July 14, 2026; fee schedule effective January 1, 2026. Used for: a standalone drain permit is required for a backwater valve in a one- or two-unit house; the fee line for backwater valves and sumps with pumps; "a fullport (normally open) backwater valve conforming to the appropriate CSA standard may be installed in a building drain that serves only one occupancy"; the Consent to Enter form for the subsidy.
- City of Toronto — Foundation Drainage Policy and Guidelines — FAQ. January 4, 2022 (policy effective January 1, 2022). Used for: foundation drain (weeping tile) connections to the sanitary sewer are strongly discouraged by the MECP; on-site management (sump, infiltration) is the expected approach.
- City of Toronto — Sewers By-law — Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 681. Page modified July 23, 2026; Chapter 681 §681-11 (downspouts). Used for: downspouts must be disconnected from the underground sewer connection and roof water conducted away from the building (§681-11).
- ClaimRebate.ca cost research — Sump Pump Cost in Toronto — Before and After the Subsidy. Price ranges verified August 1, 2026 against two Toronto contractor price guides (February 2026 and 2026 editions). Used for: installed price ranges for a replacement into an existing pit and for a new pit.
ClaimRebate.ca is independent and not affiliated with any municipality or program. Amounts shown are read from our program registry at the time this page is generated; confirm current terms on the official page before relying on them.