There’s already an example of how to do rectangle detection in OpenCV (look in samples/squares.c), and it’s quite simple, actually.
Here’s the rough algorithm they use:
0. rectangles <- {}
1. image <- load image
2. for every channel:
2.1 image_canny <- apply canny edge detector to this channel
2.2 for threshold in bunch_of_increasing_thresholds:
2.2.1 image_thresholds[threshold] <- apply threshold to this channel
2.3 for each contour found in {image_canny} U image_thresholds:
2.3.1 Approximate contour with polygons
2.3.2 if the approximation has four corners and the angles are close to 90 degrees.
2.3.2.1 rectangles <- rectangles U {contour}
Not an exact transliteration of what they are doing, but it should help you.