In short
- July 1 is Quebec's unofficial moving day, and crews serving Ottawa–Gatineau fill up in late June and early July.
- One Ottawa firm advises booking 8–10 weeks ahead in peak season and calling in April or May for July 1.
- An Ottawa–Gatineau firm says 3–4 months ahead is still on time, and rates around July 1 are at their yearly peak.
- An Ontario tenant gives at least 60 days' written notice, and a fixed-term lease cannot end earlier than its last day.
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers + 17-ft truck, 1–2 bedrooms | $150/h | One Ottawa firm’s usual list; rates may rise on weekends, month-end and Fridays before long weekends |
| July–August special, 2 movers | $149/h | The same firm’s seasonal banner, minimum 2.5 hours |
| 2 movers + 20-ft truck, up to 2 bedrooms | from $129/h | A second firm; special prices apply the 5th to the 25th of each month and can change at month-end |
| 2-bedroom apartment, local move, total | $1,050–1,590 | A third firm; depends on time of week or month, crew, truck and access |
Sources. UpMove, Quebec July 1 moving day (French), seen 29.10.2026. Ottawa Pro Movers, How far in advance should I book movers in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. Move-Ottawa Movers, Our Prices, seen 29.10.2026. OttawaBestMovers.ca, Prices, seen 29.10.2026. First Rate Movers, Local Moving in Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. Tenancy: Tribunals Ontario, How a Tenant Can End Their Tenancy, seen 29.10.2026. Parking: City of Ottawa, Parking, general descriptions, seen 29.10.2026. The company that calls you quotes its own price.
Why a Quebec date affects Ottawa
On July 1 the rest of Canada celebrates Canada Day, and Quebec moves house. Historically most standard residential leases in Quebec began and ended on July 1, and a large share of tenants still change address on or near that date. An Ottawa–Gatineau moving firm calls it the busiest moving day in North America.
Ottawa feels the spill-over because many moving companies work both sides of the river. When the Quebec side calls, a crew can be committed for the day. The same firm says that anyone planning a move in the Ottawa–Gatineau region in late June or early July is affected, even from the Ontario side.
How far ahead to book
Booking advice varies by firm, and all of it points early. One Ottawa firm says a regular move needs 4–6 weeks, peak season and month-end 8–10 weeks, and that for July 1 you should call in April or May. The Ottawa–Gatineau firm says 3–4 months ahead is still on time. Ask the company that calls you to hold the date in writing with the time, crew size and price.
The same Ottawa firm says winter moves can often be booked with 2–3 weeks’ notice, which shows how much July differs. For the other seasons, see the page on moving in winter.
The dates around July 1
The Ottawa–Gatineau firm grades the days:
| Dates | Difficulty it gives |
|---|---|
| June 25–28 | High, early movers ahead of the rush |
| June 29–30 | Very high, outgoing tenants |
| July 1 | Maximum |
| July 2–3 | High, stragglers and delayed moves |
| July 5–7 | Moderate |
| July 10 onward | Normal demand |
That is one firm’s view. If your lease allows, a move on July 6 or July 12 should be easier to book than July 1.
What it costs
Rates in Ottawa move with the calendar. Move-Ottawa Movers warns its rate can climb on weekends, at month-end and on the Friday before a long weekend, and its summer banner shows two movers at $149 an hour for July and August, 2.5 hours minimum. OttawaBestMovers.ca keeps its special prices to mid-month dates. First Rate Movers puts a local 2-bedroom apartment at $1,050–1,590 and names the time of the week or month as one reason for the spread. The moving cost guide puts the arithmetic together.
Leases, keys and notice in Ontario
A move on June 30 or July 1 is usually tied to a lease. Under Tribunals Ontario’s rules, notice runs at least 60 days, a fixed term cannot end before its last day, and mail adds 5 days. For a term ending June 30, a notice delivered by hand on May 1 counts exactly 60 days. Mailed notice needs to leave by April 26.
Ask the incoming landlord or seller when the keys are handed over. A crew that waits for keys bills the wait. For the apartment side of the problem, see apartment moving.
On the street and on the bridges
A truck on an unsigned Ottawa block gets three daytime hours under the by-law. On July 1 the Gatineau firm describes double-parked trucks, side streets reduced to one lane and blocked loading zones, and extra truck traffic on the Portage, Macdonald-Cartier and Champlain bridges. Plan the truck’s stop, the elevator booking and the crew’s route before the day.
Who takes a July 1 request
We pass it to one independent mover in Ottawa. That firm calls back, says which days around Canada Day it can staff, and quotes its own price.
Questions to ask the company
- Do you have a crew and a truck on my date, and what do you hold it with?
- Is July 1 or the days around it priced above your usual hourly rate?
- If my keys come late, how do you charge waiting time?
- Which route do you plan to take if I move between Ottawa and Gatineau?
- Can you offer a date a week either side, and what does it save?
Have this ready for the call
- Your lease end date and the date the new place is yours, in writing
- A second date a few days away, in case the first is full
- A plan for the elevator or loading dock at both buildings
- Parking for a truck that may circle for a free curb: the street, the side, the posted hours
- Water and shade for the crew; July in Ottawa runs hot
Questions people ask
Why does Ottawa feel July 1 if it is a Quebec tradition?
Quebec residential leases historically started and ended on July 1, and many tenants still move around that date. Many moving companies serve both sides of the Ottawa River, so crews are pulled to the Gatineau side and Ottawa availability shrinks. The effect reaches late June and early July.
Which dates around July 1 are hardest to book?
An Ottawa–Gatineau moving firm rates June 25–28 as high difficulty, June 29–30 as very high, July 1 as the maximum, July 2–3 as high, July 5–7 as moderate, and July 10 onward as normal demand. If your lease allows, moving a few days either side changes availability and price.
Do the bridges to Gatineau slow a move on July 1?
The same firm says the Portage, Macdonald-Cartier and Champlain bridges carry extra truck traffic on top of commuters, so a move across the river needs a large time margin. Ask the company what route and what travel time it assumes, since travel is usually billed.
Can I give notice to leave an Ontario rental on June 30?
For a fixed-term lease ending June 30, the termination date cannot be earlier than that day, and you give at least 60 days’ written notice. Counting the day after delivery as day one, notice by hand on May 1 qualifies. A mailed notice needs 5 extra days, so mail it by April 26.
Is it cheaper to move on July 15 than July 1?
Firms say so. One Ottawa–Gatineau firm calls prices around July 1 their yearly peak, and an Ottawa firm raises rates for month-end and weekends. Another reserves its special prices for mid-month dates. Ask the company for the exact difference between your two dates in writing.
