How Much Does 24/7 Construction Site Monitoring Cost in Ontario?

If you are budgeting for construction site security in Ontario, you have probably noticed that most providers make you request a quote before sharing any real numbers. We think you should be able to compare options before picking up the phone.

This guide breaks down the actual costs of every major monitoring approach available in Ontario — from on-site guards to remote video monitoring to hybrid setups. Real dollar figures, no “contact us for pricing.”

The Five Monitoring Options

1. On-Site Security Guards

A physical security guard stationed on your construction site 24/7.

Cost breakdown:

Security guard wages in Ontario range from $18 to $28 per hour in 2026, depending on the company, experience level, and whether the guard is armed.

24/7 coverage requires three shifts per day, seven days a week:

168 hours per week × 4.33 weeks per month = approximately 727 hours per month
At $18/hour: $13,086/month
At $28/hour: $20,356/month

Most security companies charge a markup over the guard’s wage for administration, insurance, and supervision. Expect to pay the security company $22 to $35 per hour, which translates to:

Low estimate: $16,000/month
High estimate: $25,000/month

What you get:

Physical deterrent — someone is visibly present
Immediate response to incidents (trespassers, unauthorized access)
Credential checking and access control
Can patrol the full site, not just what a camera sees

What you do not get:

No visual record (unless the guard takes photos)
Single point of failure — one person, one set of eyes
Human limitations (fatigue, distraction, blind spots during patrol rounds)
No documentation for dispute or insurance purposes

2. Remote Video Monitoring (Third-Party Security Company)

A security company monitors your camera feeds from an off-site monitoring centre.

Cost: $500 to $2,000/month per site, depending on the number of cameras, monitoring hours, and response protocol.

Companies like GardaWorld, Securitas, and Paladin offer remote monitoring services. You provide the cameras (or they install their own), and their monitoring centre watches the feeds.

What you get:

Professional monitoring centre with trained operators
Lower cost than on-site guards
Escalation protocols (contact site manager, call police, dispatch mobile patrol)
24/7 or after-hours-only options

What you do not get:

Generic monitoring — operators watch dozens of feeds simultaneously, not just yours
Not construction-specific — operators may not understand normal site activity versus actual threats
Typically separate from your construction camera system — if you already have a timelapse camera, the monitoring company uses their own cameras
No timelapse, no project documentation, no stakeholder portal

3. Sitelapse 24/7 Live Video Monitoring

Cost: $1,800/month per site (add-on to any Sitelapse camera plan)

This is our offering, so we will be detailed about what it includes.

Trained security personnel watch your Sitelapse camera feeds around the clock. This is not automated motion alerts — it is real people actively monitoring live video.

What is included:

24/7 live monitoring by trained security personnel
AI-assisted detection — motion, intrusion, after-hours activity alerts that help operators focus attention
Construction-specific monitoring — operators understand what normal site activity looks like (early morning crew arrivals, equipment movement) versus actual threats (unauthorized access, after-hours entry, material theft)
Integrated with your Sitelapse camera system — same portal, same feeds, same footage archive
Incident response protocol: alert site manager, contact authorities, document everything with timestamped footage
Incident reports with screenshots and timeline

What it costs in context:

$1,800/month is significantly less than an on-site guard ($16,000–$25,000/month). It is more than basic remote monitoring ($500–$2,000/month) because it includes construction-specific trained personnel and integration with your documentation system.

Combined with a Sitelapse camera plan ($250–$450/month), your total for camera documentation plus 24/7 monitoring is $2,050 to $2,250/month.

Who it is for:

High-value sites where theft or vandalism risk justifies active monitoring. Sites storing expensive materials or equipment overnight. Projects in areas with a history of construction site break-ins.

4. Camera-Only (No Active Monitoring)

Cost: $99 to $450/month depending on provider

This is what most construction camera services provide — cameras that record and stream, but nobody actively watches the feed.

What you get:

Live camera feed accessible through a portal
Recorded footage you can review after an incident
Automated timelapse documentation
Visible camera as a passive deterrent

What you do not get:

No real-time response — by the time you review the footage, the incident is over
No one watching at 2 AM when most site break-ins happen
The camera documents the theft, but it does not prevent it

Camera-only is appropriate when your primary goal is documentation, not security. If you want timelapse footage for stakeholders, progress reporting, and dispute protection — but your site is in a low-risk area or already has other security measures — camera-only is the right level.

For more on the differences between cameras and active monitoring, see our guide on live construction site monitoring: guards versus cameras.

5. Hybrid Approach (Most Common)

The most practical approach for many construction sites combines multiple layers.

Typical hybrid setups:

Option A — Camera + after-hours monitoring

Construction camera 24/7 (for documentation): $250–$450/month
Remote monitoring during off-hours only (evenings, nights, weekends): $300–$800/month
Total: $550–$1,250/month

Option B — Guard during day + camera monitoring at night

On-site guard during active construction hours (10 hours/day, weekdays): $4,500–$7,000/month
Camera with 24/7 monitoring for nights and weekends: $2,050–$2,250/month
Total: $6,550–$9,250/month

Option C — Camera + mobile patrol

Construction camera 24/7: $250–$450/month
Mobile patrol visits (security vehicle checks site 2–4 times per night): $500–$1,500/month
Total: $750–$1,950/month

Most Ontario construction sites use some version of Option A or Option C — a camera system for documentation combined with either remote monitoring or mobile patrol for after-hours security.

Cost Comparison Summary

Monitoring Approach	Monthly Cost	Response Time	Documentation	Best For
On-site guard (24/7)	$16,000–$25,000	Immediate	None (unless guard takes photos)	High-risk sites needing physical presence
Remote video monitoring (third-party)	$500–$2,000	Minutes (escalation)	Separate from project documentation	General security monitoring
Sitelapse 24/7 monitoring	$1,800 + camera plan	Minutes (escalation)	Integrated with timelapse and portal	Construction-specific, integrated documentation + security
Camera only (no monitoring)	$99–$450	After the fact (review footage)	Full (timelapse, live feed, archive)	Documentation focus, low security risk
Hybrid (camera + after-hours)	$550–$1,250	Minutes during monitored hours	Full	Balanced cost and security
Hybrid (guard + camera + monitoring)	$6,550–$9,250	Immediate during day, minutes at night	Full	High-value sites with active construction

Ontario-Specific Considerations

Construction Site Theft

Construction site theft in Canada costs the industry billions annually. Ontario, with the largest construction market in the country, accounts for a significant share. Equipment, materials (especially copper, lumber, and steel), and tools are common targets.

The Ontario Provincial Police and Toronto Police Service have both noted increases in organized construction site theft. For a detailed look at the financial impact, see our article on the true cost of construction site theft in Canada.

Insurance Implications

Some insurance providers in Ontario offer premium discounts for construction sites with documented monitoring. A site with 24/7 camera monitoring and incident documentation may qualify for lower premiums than an unmonitored site.

The key is documentation — not just having cameras, but having a professional system that produces verifiable records with timestamps and access logs. Our guide on reducing construction insurance premiums with camera documentation breaks down how this works.

OHSA and Regulatory Requirements

The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) requires employers to take every precaution reasonable to protect workers. While OHSA does not explicitly mandate cameras, documented visual monitoring of safety conditions supports compliance obligations.

For projects with specific safety documentation requirements — especially large infrastructure and government projects — camera systems with safety monitoring capabilities help satisfy OHSA compliance requirements.

Municipal and Government Projects

Government-funded construction projects in Ontario increasingly include documentation and monitoring requirements in their specifications. If you are bidding on municipal, provincial, or federal work, check the project specifications for visual documentation requirements — they are becoming standard.

How to Decide What You Need

Low risk, documentation focus: Camera only ($250–$450/month). Your site is in a low-crime area, materials are not unusually valuable, and your primary need is progress documentation for stakeholders.

Moderate risk, balanced approach: Camera plus after-hours monitoring ($550–$1,250/month). Your site has standard construction materials and equipment. You want documentation plus a safety net for nights and weekends.

High risk, active security: Camera plus 24/7 monitoring ($2,050–$2,250/month with Sitelapse) or hybrid with guards ($6,550–$9,250/month). Your site stores high-value materials or equipment, is in a high-theft area, or has experienced break-in attempts.

Maximum security: On-site guard plus camera plus monitoring ($6,550–$25,000+/month). Reserved for the highest-value sites or sites with active, ongoing security threats.

Get a Quote

If you want to explore monitoring options for your site, contact us or call (905) 550-0490. We will give you an honest assessment of what level of monitoring your project actually needs — including telling you if camera-only is sufficient and you do not need the $1,800/month monitoring add-on.

For camera pricing without monitoring, visit our pricing page or read our detailed pricing breakdown.