Consumer awareness

The City of Ottawa would like to remind residents that while many people who come to your door offering goods and services are legitimate, you should always be diligent before making a purchase. 

Update: As of March 1, 2018, the Province of Ontario has banned door-to-door sales of the following items and services:

• Air cleaners
• Air conditioners
• Air purifiers
• Duct cleaning services
• Furnaces
• Water filters
• Water heaters
• Water purifiers
• Water softeners
• Water treatment devices
• Bundles of these goods and services

For more information, visit: ontario.ca (link is external)

Before you hear a sales pitch, remember:         

• Always ask a salesperson to identify themselves by showing you company issued identification or some other form of photo identification. Make note of their name and the business they represent. 
• Never share personal information (for example, a utility bill). 
• Never leave the salesperson unattended in any room of your home. If you feel threatened or intimidated, ask them to leave. If they refuse, call the police. 
• Local utility companies, the City of Ottawa and government agencies don’t send salespeople door-to-door.

Always know who you’re doing business with.           

• Be wary of high pressure sales tactics and “limited time only” signing incentives.   A good company will be willing to give you time to make up your mind. 
• Go online and look for customer reviews. A reputable company will be registered with the Better Business Bureau and be able to give you strong references. 

 Know the terms of the contract before you sign.   

• Always make sure you get a detailed contract in writing. Read it carefully before signing anything. Scrutinize the fine print and know your cancellation rights. 
• Make sure the company name on promotional material matches the company name on the contract. 
• Be suspicious if a home service company requires payment in full before the work is started. A staggered payment model using post-dated cheques, for example, is considered an industry best practice. 
• Request a copy of the contract and keep it for your records. 

Having second thoughts? Know your rights.

• The Ontario Consumer Protection Act gives you special rights when you buy something in your home. For example, you have 10 days to cancel a contract for whatever reason. For more information about your rights, visit the Ministry of Consumer Services website or contact the ministry directly at 1-800-889-9768. 

Your home is your home, regardless if you rent or own.

As a tenant, you have rights.

The same rights apply, no matter where you live, how much you pay for rent, your age, gender, cultural background or citizenship status.

While you have certain responsibilities as a tenant as well, your landlord also has responsibility towards you.

Tenant Responsibilities

• Pay your rent
• Don’t damage property
• Keep your place clean
• Report problems about your place promptly
• Respect the rules of the building
• Follow City by-laws

Landlord Responsibilities

• Ensure the property is safe and well maintained
• Ensure common areas are clean
• Provide proper heat whenever required
• Keep property pest and rodent free
• Respect tenant rights
• Follow City by-laws

When you have a problem

The Landlord and Tenant Board resolves most disputes between landlords and tenants. However, there are many cases where the City of Ottawa can also help you.

Each year, the City helps hundreds of tenants deal with issues like:

• Not enough heat
• Bed bugs, cockroaches, other pests
• Exterior waste and debris
• Building maintenance issues
• Water and plumbing problems

How to get help

1. Report the issue by calling 3-1-1.
2. You will need to provide your contact information. This information will not be shared with your landlord. Your privacy will be protected.
3. You will be provided a Service Request Number. Save this number. You can use it to track your case at any time.
4. A By-law Officer will contact you to get more details about your complaint and will come to inspect the property as necessary.
5. If the By-law Officer sees a problem that presents an immediate danger, they will issue an Emergency Order to fix the problem.
6. If the problem is not an emergency, the By-law Officer can issue a Notice of Violation or a Property Standards Order for the landlord to fix the problem.   Because of limitations on the City’s authority given by provincial law, a minimum of 19 days must be given to the landlord to do the necessary work.
7. Extensions may be granted, except where there is a public health or safety risk.
8. The By-law officer will return to re-inspect the property. If the problem has not been fixed, the City can do the necessary work and bill the landlord, and/or the landlord can be issued a fine for not complying.

Your privacy

Please note that under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (“MFIPPA”), your personal information will never be shared or used for any other purpose other than the reason for which it was provided. Staff may need to share the information internally in order action your complaint or concern. For example, in order to rectify a by-law complaint that was called into 311, your complaint will need to be shared with By-law & Regulatory Services in order to provide the service that you requested. Caller identification is considered personal information and is kept confidential.

There are specific and limited circumstances where personal information may be disclosed. This could be where consent has been provided, or in the case of an active police investigation. The list of circumstances where disclosure of personal information is allowed can be found under Section 32 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

The City of Ottawa takes the privacy of personal information very seriously. If you believe that your personal information has been inappropriately shared or breached, please report this to the Access to Information and Privacy Office by calling 613-580-2424 ext. 21898.

For more information regarding your privacy, please see the links provided below.

Access to information and protection of privacy

Other Languages

This information is also available (as a PDF document) in the following languages:

• Arabic
• Hindi
• Indonesian
• Mandarin
• Spanish
• Urdu

The City of Ottawa’s Deputization Program aims to address parking violations on privately owned parking lots by authorizing Private Parking Enforcement Agencies (PPEAs) to issue City of Ottawa Parking Infraction Notices (a parking ticket). This protects the public by providing access to the Court processes that are available to contest any City of Ottawa parking ticket.

As part of the current Private Parking Enforcement Agencies program, PPEAs deputized by the City are not permitted to tow or move vehicles without the presence of a City of Ottawa Parking Control, By-law Enforcement Officer or a Police Officer.

The Private Parking Enforcement Agency Towing Program permits qualifying PPEAs to tow vehicles from the private properties for which they provide enforcement , without having a Parking Control, By-law or Police Officer on-site.

The following are the minimum requirements for participation in the pilot:

• The PPEA* must be licensed in accordance with Schedule 30 to the Licensing By-law, relating to Private Parking Enforcement Agencies, unless exempted under the by-law, and must have entered into a Cost Recovery Agreement with the City;
• The owner or occupier of the relevant property must consent to such services on the property from which the tow is to occur;
• The tow may occur only upon the third private property parking infraction on the same property for the same plated motor vehicle;
• Upon the third offence, in addition to the tow, a City of Ottawa Parking Infraction Notice (a ticket) must be issued; and,
• The tow request must be arranged through By-law & Regulatory Services, which will dispatch a City of Ottawa contracted tow truck (Metro or Gervais).

*PPEAs eligible to participate in the Towing Pilot:

1. Algonquin College
2. Capital Parking
3. Capital Security
4. Capital Systems
5. Carleton Parking
6. CHEO
7. Garda Security
8. Indigo
9. La Cite Collegiale
10. Macdonald-Cartier Ottawa Airport
11. Murray & Murray
12. Ottawa Community Housing
13. Ottawa Hospital
14. Phoenix Security
15. Praetorian Garde
16. Precise ParkLink
17. Queensway Carleton Hospital
18. Response Security
19. Royal Ottawa Hospital
20. University of Ottawa

For more information, please contact ppea@ottawa.ca.

Consumer Protection Ontario offers additional tips to motorists whose vehicles have been towed. 

What is a payday loan?

Pursuant to the Province of Ontario’s Payday Loans Act, 2008, a payday loan is a short-term, small value loan (up to $1,500) in exchange for a future payment, typically intended to be repaid by the borrower on the next pay cheque. The cost of a loan is $15 per $100 (for example, $45 interest accrues during the two-week period for a $300 loan).

Further information on payday loans, including options to consider before getting a payday loan, can be found online at Government of Canada, Payday loan information from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.

Consumer protection

Effective July 2018, the Province of Ontario implemented new rules to enhance and further protect consumers who wish to obtain payday loans. These included:

• lenders cannot lend you more than 50% of your net income per loan
• lenders must show the cost of borrowing a payday loan as an annual percentage rate in advertising or agreements
• the maximum fee that cheque cashing services can charge for government-issued cheques is $10
• lenders must give you the option of an extended payment plan if you take out three loans within a 63-day period.

Further information regarding what you need to know before you take out a payday loan from a payday loan establishment (including online payday loan lenders and brokers) can be found on online at Ontario Payday loan: know your rights.

If you have a complaint concerning the service received at a payday loan establishment, please contact Consumer Protection Ontario online or by calling 1-800-889-9768 (TTY: 1-877-666-6545).

Credit counselling services

The City of Ottawa recommends the following agencies to provide you with information and assist you with credit counselling:

Credit Counselling Canada, or call 1-866-398-5999

EBO Financial Education Centre or call 613-746-0400

Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services (OACCS) or call 1-905-945-5644

City of Ottawa by-laws limit and regulate Payday Loan Establishments

Planning changes:

As of September 25, 2019, Payday loan establishments are:

• permitted in limited commercial zones
• only permitted in a building containing other commercial uses
• prohibited in a building containing residential uses
• required to be located a minimum distance of:
  • 1000 metres from any lots containing another payday loan establishment
  • 300 metres from a lot containing a school or a post-secondary educational facility
  • 500 metres from a lot containing a casino or racetrack.

Please note that payday loan establishments that were lawfully established prior to the new planning rules may have legal non-conforming rights that permit them to continue to operate at the existing location provided there is no interruption of use. However, if the operator chooses to relocate, the new establishment would have to comply with the new zoning restrictions. This must be determined on a case by case basis.

Licensing rules:

In addition to the requirement of provincial licensing under the Payday Loans Act, 2008, payday loan establishments must also be licensed by the City of Ottawa. This will assist in monitoring each location to see that the use complies with City by-laws including zoning, and that the owner/operator of the establishment is licensed by the Province of Ontario, has the required criminal record checks completed, is properly insured, and posts a financial information poster in their establishment as specified by the Chief Licensing Inspector.

If you have a complaint regarding the location or municipal licensing of payday loan establishments, please contact 311 and ask to speak to By-law Regulatory Services or through Ottawa.ca at Request for Service.

If you have a complaint concerning the service received at a payday loan establishment, please contact Consumer Protection Ontario online or by calling 1-800-889-9768 (TTY: 1-877-666-6545).

In recognition of the significance of Remembrance Day in honouring Canadian Veterans and those serving in the military currently, and in accordance with the City of Ottawa’s Remembrance Day By-law 2008-355 , most retail businesses are required to close until 12:30 pm on November 11th each year. The exceptions to the closure requirement are:

• Food/grocery, tobacco, antique and handicraft stores with less than 2400 square feet in total area used for serving/selling to the public
• Pharmacies with less than 7500 square feet in total area used for serving/selling to the public. Therefore, pharmacies located inside larger stores must be closed until 12:30 pm
• Book/newspaper dealers which store is less than 2400 square feet in total area used for serving/selling to the public
• Convenience stores (e.g. “corner” stores)
• Nurseries, gardening supply stores and florists
• Gasoline/fuel stations
• Businesses selling propane, diesel, natural gas and associated fuel products
• Businesses dealing in the rental of motor vehicles and boats
• Businesses dealing in the repair of motor vehicles and boats, which includes the portion of larger stores where vehicle repairs are being provided.

Note also that:

• The by-law deals only with fixed, enclosed premises
• The closure requirement under the by-law does not apply to:
  • hotels and motels
  • restaurants (take-out, fast food, sit-down)
  • recreational facilities and fitness centres
  • doctors’, dentists’, optometrists’ offices
  • medical centres
  • funeral homes
  • hair salons and spas
  • pet groomers
  • vehicle repair shops
  • repair services for computers, furnaces, air conditioners, pools
  • pay-day loan services
  • realtors
  • dry cleaners
  • vendors at outdoor markets (i.e. ByWard, Parkdale)
• The closure requirement under the by-law does apply to:
  • tourist areas exempted by by-law from the Retail Business Holidays Act (which regulates retail store opening on Statutory Holidays) including the ByWard Market BIA, the Downtown Rideau BIA, the Glebe BIA, the Rideau Centre, Sparks Street Mall and the Loblaws Supermarket at 363 Rideau Street, unless any businesses within those areas fall under an exemption under the Remembrance Day By-law as noted above
    • in other words, their “tourist area exemption” cannot be used on November 11th. Many of their businesses will have to be closed until 12:30 pm, unless they fall under an exemption in the by-law (e.g. news stand) or the by-law does not apply to them in general (e.g. restaurants)
  • Street vendors on:
    • Rideau Street or Wellington Street between Sussex Drive and Metcalfe Street
    • Elgin Street between Wellington Street and Queen Street
  • travel agents
  • eyeglass retailers (i.e. the portion of the space in which eyeglasses are sold)
• In the case of car dealerships that also operate repair shops, the retail sales portion of the dealership must be closed to the public. Where the repair portion does not have a separate entrance, clients should be notified that the retail portion is closed (e.g. via signage).

Note that retail businesses which are required to close under the by-law and are normally open 24 hours, are required to be closed from 8 am until 12:30 pm on November 11th.

For more information, you may refer to the Remembrance Day By-law or contact the City of Ottawa’s By-law and Regulatory Services at 613-580-2424, ext. 12735.

Information for residents

As winter approaches, the City of Ottawa would like to remind residents that while many people who come to your door offering snow removal services are legitimate, you should always be diligent before making a purchase. 

Before you hear a sales pitch at your door, remember:  

• Always ask a salesperson to identify themselves by showing you company issued identification or some other form of photo identification. Make note of their name and the business they represent. 
• Never share personal information (for example, a utility bill). 
• Never leave the salesperson unattended in any room of your home. If you feel threatened or intimidated, ask them to leave. If they refuse, call the police. 
• Local utility companies, the City of Ottawa and government agencies don’t send salespeople door-to-door.

Always know who you’re doing business with.           

• Be wary of high pressure sales tactics and “limited time only” signing incentives.   A good company will be willing to give you time to make up your mind. 
• Go online and look for customer reviews. A reputable company will be registered with the Better Business Bureau and be able to give you strong references.

Know the terms of the contract before you sign.   

• Always make sure you get a detailed contract in writing. Read it carefully before signing anything. Scrutinize the fine print and know your cancellation rights. 
• Make sure the company name on promotional material matches the company name on the contract. 
• Be suspicious if the company requires payment in full before the work is started. A staggered payment model using post-dated cheques, for example, is considered an industry best practice. 
• Request a copy of the contract and keep it for your records. 

Having second thoughts? Know your rights. 

• The Ontario Consumer Protection Act gives you special rights when you buy something in your home. For example, you have 10 days to cancel a contract for whatever reason. For more information about your rights, visit the Ministry of Consumer Services website or contact the ministry directly at 1-800-889-9768.

Be aware of snow removal scams.

In these scams, a con artist will take payment for a whole season of snow removal and then never return. To avoid being scammed: 

• Never pay for a whole season of snow removal unless you have a good relationship with a reputable company. If you are required to make a deposit, keep it low and make staggered payments over the term of the contract. 
• Ask to see proof that the company has an active Snow Plow Contractor business license issued by the City of Ottawa. A listing of licensed snow plow contractors is available. 
• Check the reputation of the company with your neighbours and go online for customer reviews and ratings. Ask if the company is registered with the Better Business Bureau and able to give you references from local clients.  

All snow plow contractors licensed by the City of Ottawa are required to:

• Have an active City of Ottawa Business License. 
• Have a City of Ottawa snow plow numbered plate prominently affixed to every snow plow vehicle. 
• Have a sign showing the name and telephone number of the business on both sides of every snow plow vehicle. 
• Keep a record of all contracts with the entries transcribed in ink in a clear and legible manner, or in a recording system.
• Not throw, push, dump or otherwise deposit snow or ice on City property, private property (other than at their clients or an authorized snow disposal facility), and on accessible parking spaces
• Keep a record of all contracts with the entries transcribed in ink in a clear and legible manner, or in a recording system
• Provide clients with a copy of the Snow Knowledge information sheet.

Reporting unlicensed snow plow contractors

Failure to comply with these requirements may constitute a violation. If you suspect a snow removal contractor does not have a City of Ottawa License, or has failed to comply with the abovementioned requirements, please call 3-1-1.

In the event that residents are suspicious of illegitimate businesses, a consumer complaint report can be made through the federal Competition Bureau.

Information for Snow Plow Contractors

Licence Applications for Snow Plow Contractors

All snow plow contractors working on private property must obtain a business licence through the City of Ottawa (By-law No. 2002-189, Schedule 4). Refer to the City’s Licence Application and Permits webpage for more information.

Best Practices: Salt Management

Environment Canada requires organizations who use more than 500 tonnes of salt annually to develop a Salt Management Plan. Given that Snow Plow Contractors working on private property do not apply this volume of salt per year, they would not require a Salt Management Plan. However, best practices can be developed to reduce the potential impact to the environment when applying and managing de-icing abrasives.

Salt application:

• Did you know? Applying too much salt can impact drinking water quality overtime, cause property damage, and harm plants, trees, and soils.
• It is important to deliver the right amount of salt, in the right place, at the right time by understanding the relationship between air and surface temperatures, current conditions, weather forecasts, and chemical processes.
• Multiple training programs are available related to salt management, which can assist Snow Plow Contractors with increasing their knowledge on required salt application based on conditions.  
• Here are some tips and tricks to use less salt on private driveways:
  • Apply salt prior to snowfall events or clear the snow first before applying.
  • The most effective working temperature of salt is between -6C and -10C.
  • Salt doesn’t need to be seen to work! On average, it only takes 1 cup of salt to cover a single car driveway.

Snow disposal:

• If snow cannot be placed on-site, ensure that snow is being disposed of in an authorized snow disposal facility to ensure proper drainage and elimination of salt contaminants.

Salt storage:

• Ensure there is appropriate coverage of salt piles and blended salt-sand piles and handling practices are in place to avoid uncontrolled releases and drainage management.

Best Practices: Snow Disposal and Storage

The City of Ottawa prohibits Snow Plow Contractors from dumping snow on private property, other than that of their client’s or at an authorized snow disposal facility.

The best place for snow to stay is on the client’s property. If there is insufficient space for snow storage, Snow Plow Contractors must dispose snow at an authorized snow disposal facility.

For more information, please visit the Province of Ontario’s Guidelines on Snow Disposal and De-icing Operations in Ontario website.

Locates and Driveway Markers

Locates are ground markings identifying the position of existing utility lines based on records or electronic locating equipment, and the associated necessary documentation such as a locate sheet. Ground markings consist of different colours of paint and/or flags that are used to reflect each type of infrastructure (gas, hydro, cable, etc.).

The Province of Ontario legislate the requirements for locates when individuals are digging or inserting objects into the ground. Locates can be obtained free of charge by Ontario One Call, a not-for-profit organization that acts as a communications link between buried infrastructure owners and individuals who are planning to dig in the province of Ontario.

Snow Plow Contractors and property owners are responsible for obtaining locates when inserting driveway markers into the ground.

For more information on locates please visit Ontario One Call.

As of November 19, 2024

• 360 Landscaping (Ottawa) Inc.
• A. Quality Roofing
• A1 Professional Roofing Inc.
• Advanced Landscaping Inc.
• Alan’s Plowing
• All In One Landscaping
• Allan McCoy Contracting Inc.
• Al’Seasons
• Amalfi Stoneworks & Landscape Design Inc.
• Amisco Maintenance
• Anchorage Snow Removal Ltd.
• Andre Taillefer Ltd.
• Andy’s Snow Blowing and Lawn Care
• Ashford Farms
• ASJ Landscaping & Snow Removal Inc.
• Auer General Renovation & Landscaping
• B.G. Gorham Construction Inc.
• Belmoris Gilberto Coreas
• Bilodeau Excavation
• Blizzard Pro
• Blower Xpress Services
• Blue Teal Construction Ltd.
• Bob Bisson
• Caltrio Company Ltd.
• Capital S.L.C. Inc.
• Capital Yardworks
• Carlsbad Paving
• Centennial Construction (Rockland) Ltee/Ltd.
• Central Snow
• Champagne Construction and Interlocking
• Cityscape
• Classic Interlock Inc.
• Clean Cut Lawn & Lot Maintenance
• Cody Building Services
• CSL Group Ltd.
• Cultivate
• Custom Property Solution
• Daniel Marier
• DEI Gloriam Property Maintenance
• Designer Snow Removal Inc.
• DGM Landscaping
• Double C Farm
• E.C. Carruthers & Sons
• Elie El-Salibi
• Evo Snow and Lawn
• Exact Interlock Ltd.
• Exel Contracting Inc.
• Exterior Solutions
• F.A.S.R.S. Entretien J.G.P.
• F.M. Interlock Inc.
• Fence Repairs Ottawa
• Fencescape Inc.
• Flynn Landscaping Ltd.
• Franick Road Service Inc.
• Frontier Petroleum Solutions
• Gemma Property Services Inc.
• Glenn Wright Excavating
• Golden Triangle Solutions
• Greely Sand & Gravel
• Green Acres Landscape Maintenance Inc.
• Green Slate Landscape
• Green Works Contracting Inc.
• Greenday Landscaping
• Greenstar Landscaping Inc.
• Grounds Work Property Services Ltd.
• Guy Courchesne Excavation Ltd.
• H&B Contracting
• Habitat Enviroscaping & P.M.
• Hanna’s Property Maintenance
• HGL
• J.R. Lawn Maintenance & Snow Removal Inc.
• Jack Equipment Inc.
• Jacques Bedard Excavation Limited
• JC Levesque Trucking Ltd.
• Jerome Landscaping
• Joel Evan Inc.
• John Couture
• John Cundell
• K. Joly Contracting
• Kare-Mor Enterprises Co Ltd.
• Kevin Brooks Landscaping Services
• Kodiak Snow Blowing Inc.
• Kodiak Snow Removal
• Landscapedelivery.ca
• Landtech Inc.
• Lawn & Order
• Lawnscape
• Leeside Snowblowing
• Lenco Renovations
• Local Boys Snow Blowing
• Longo’s Lawn and Snow Maintenance
• Luciano’s Excavation
• M. Davis Landscape & Design
• MacPlow
• Manotick Snow Removal Inc.
• Maurice Yelle Snow Removal Ltd.
• MCD Contracting Inc.
• Meagher Snowblowing
• Michael Radbourne
• Miller’s
• Milner & Sons Excavating
• Moose & Sons Property Maintenance Limited
• Mountainview Turf Farm Ltd.
• Murphy’s Snow Solutions
• Nicash Maintenance Services
• Nick’s Landscaping
• Noel’s Snow Plowing
• Odie’s Landscaping and Snow Removal
• Osgoode Sand & Gravel
• Ottawa Grass & Snow Masters Ltd.
• Ottawa Interlock
• Ottawa Residential Consultants Inc.
• Ottawa Snow Blowing Inc.
• Parkway Landscaping
• Peloso Construction
• Peloso Landscaping
• Peter Smit & Sons Inc.
• PFC Property Management Inc.
• Picture Perfect Landscaping
• Pierce Hill Snow Removal
• Power Clean
• Pride Landscaping & Maintenance
• Primrose Cartage & Excavating Inc.
• Prodigy Property Maintenance Inc.
• Pro-X Excavation Inc.
• Queen’s Property Services
• Rene Dieudonne
• Ridge Rock Group
• River Valley Property Maintenance
• Robert Alford
• RTremblay Contracting
• Sam Dagg
• Schell Snow Plowing
• Sharpley's Ottawa Snowco & Equipment Rentals
• Sky High Enterprises Ltd.
• Smilies Home Services
• Snow'N'Grow
• Snow-Care Works
• Stapledon Farms
• Stinson Professional Landscaping
• Stone Edge Snowblowing
• Strada Construction Group Inc.
• Strathmar Trenching Ltd.
• Sunshine Snow Service Inc.
• Super Speedy Inc.
• Swaby Trucking
• T.Q. Landscapes Inc.
• Taylor Contracting
• The Better Look Service
• The Silverstone Group
• The Squires Lawn and Garden
• The Vivid Group Inc.
• Thomas Cavanagh Construction
• Thunderbolt Contracting Ltd.
• Totalscape Contracting
• True Services Inc.
• Viflo
• West Carleton Sand & Gravel Inc.
• Westend Snoworks
• Wild Ridge Landscapes
• Worry Free Snow Blowing Inc.
• Yards Unlimited Landscaping Inc.
• Your Home Investment
• Your Way Snow and Lawn Inc.
• Zagros Property Management

Taxis and other private transportation companies are an important part of Ottawa’s transportation network. The City of Ottawa licenses and regulates taxi and private transportation companies to ensure passenger and driver safety, as well as accessibility and quality of service.

Ottawa’s more than 1,100 licensed taxis, including nearly 200 accessible vehicles, are driven by over 2,000 licensed drivers who provide service 24/7, 365 days a year.

Taxi meter rates are set by the City in order to protect consumers. In the absence of these regulations, passengers would largely not be in a position to assess a fair price given the variable nature of the service in terms of both distance and quality of vehicle and driver.

In addition to traditional taxi services, Ottawa has embraced emerging ‘ride-sharing’ services, such as Uber and Lyft, to provide residents and visitors with more transportation options while still ensuring public safety and accountability.

The City of Ottawa would like to highlight to residents and visitors the safety and service benefits of using licensed transportation providers.  

Unlicensed transportation providers

Using unlicensed transportation providers is risky and is strongly discouraged by the City of Ottawa.

With unlicensed providers, there is no restitution if you are overcharged or receive poor service, nor is there any guarantee of vehicle insurance and drivers are not screened for prior criminal activity.

Licensed taxicabs

Use a taxicab licensed by the City of Ottawa, which currently includes:

Blue Line Taxi Co. Ltd
613-238-1111
455 Coventry Rd., Ottawa, ON K1K 2C5

Capital Taxi
613-744-3333
263 Hannah St., Vanier, ON K1L 7N1

West-Way Taxi
613-727-0101
11 Bentley Ave., Nepean, ON K2E 6T7

Executive Cabs
613-248-3558
979 Pleasant Park Rd., Ottawa, ON K1G 1Z6

How to recognize a licensed taxicab

Outside look for a:

• Number taxi plate on the right side of the rear bumper
• Roof sign indicating the taxi company and taxi plate number

Inside look for:

• The 'Rights and responsibilities for taxi drivers and taxi passengers' clearly displayed
• City of Ottawa driver identification card with photo and driver number
• City of Ottawa tariff card listing fees
• Taximeter with City of Ottawa seal

In addition, licensed taxis must have debit/credit card machines for customer convenience and in-car security cameras to protect drivers and passengers. 

Taxi service

Some driver responsibilities include:

• Providing courteous service to passengers
• Taking the most direct route to the destination unless directed otherwise by the passenger
• Keeping the taxi clean, tidy and scent free
• Charging fares according to the tariff card with rate calculated by taxicab meter
• Agree to transport a service animal unless allergic and if unable to transport ensure another cab is immediately dispatched

Reporting service quality:

• Compliments will be passed on to the taxi driver if the driver is properly identified
• Complaints will result in a proper investigation and may in turn improve taxi service
• Report your experience as soon as possible by calling the City at 3-1-1
• Facts like the car number, driver number, location of pick-up and time of day will help officials track the driver. Better yet ask for a receipt.

Licensed Private Transportation Companies (PTCs)

For your own safety, only use a Private Transportation Company Driver that has been booked by an app – never accept a ride from a driver off the street.

The following are private transportation companies licensed for operation within the City of Ottawa:

• Lyft, Inc.
• Uber Canada Inc.

PTC vehicle identification

Outside look for:

• Colour and licence plate matching the description provided by the app you ordered the ride from.

Inside look for:

• An identification card from the company verifying that individual driving is the same driver identified by the app. The card should have the picture of the driver, first and last name, name and contact information of the PTC company and, make, model and license plate number.

PTC service

Some driver’s responsibilities include:

• Only accepting passengers who have requested service through the app, no street hailing or use of taxi stands is allowed
• Charging fares only through the app, cash payments are not allowed. Tips are allowed and are entirely at the passenger’s discretion

Reporting service quality

Any compliment or complaint concerning a service must be sent to the company in question. Complaints can also be directed to 3-1-1.