Marihuana Grow Ops: What Homebuyers should know

An increasing number of houses in communities across Canada are used as indoor marijuana growing operations, or “grow ops”. The houses undergo significant structural changes in order to be used to grow the plants; these changes can compromise the integrity and inhabitability of the house, and can require major repairs and renovations to correct. The average cost to repair a home previously used as a grow op is $41,000, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

The Ottawa Real Estate successfully lobbied the City of Ottawa and Ottawa Police Services to create a “Grow Ops Registry” where the addresses of houses that have had search warrants executed and drug operations dismantled are published online. This service began February 1, 2008. The list can be found here:

Ottawa Police Service - Marijuana Grow Operations

Further information on how to spot a grow-op in your neighbourhood can be found here:

Ottawa Police Service - How to Spot a Marihuana Grow Operation

If you suspect that a home is being used as a grow-op, please contact police immediately.

Here are some links to more information about grow ops:

Government of Ontario legislation on grow ops:

CTV News - Possible provincial grow ops registry: