Completed by-law reviews

Description

City staff conducted a review of the Clothing Donation Box By-law (No. 2013-98) which regulated the location and use of clothing donation boxes on private property.

The Clothing Donation Box By-law review considered:

• The accumulation of donated items, waste, and debris at clothing donation box locations
• The unauthorized placement of clothing donation boxes on private property
• Operator eligibility requirements
• Health and safety concerns
• Textile waste diversion opportunities

Results

On September 27, 2023, City Council approved a new Clothing Donation Box By-law (No. 2023-425) and permit requirement for clothing donation box owners in Ottawa. This new by-law took effect on January 31, 2024 and replaced the previous 2013 By-law.

The new by-law includes:

• A mandatory permit requirement for clothing donation box owners operating boxes outdoors on private property and at approved City facilities
• Updated regulations for the location, signage, maintenance, and safety of clothing donation boxes in Ottawa
• Annual reporting requirements for permit holders to help inform textile waste diversion initiatives and enhancements

The new by-law ensures that donation boxes are:

• Placed in appropriate locations and are safe for operation
• Properly labelled so that residents know who is responsible for the box and who the donations are benefitting
• Emptied and maintained on a regular basis

Reports

September 21, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee

September 27, 2023 – City Council

Contact

For questions about enforcement and permit administration, please visit the Clothing donation box permit page or contact:

The Business Licensing Centre
613-580-2424 ext. 12735
businesslicensing@ottawa.ca

For questions about the By-law review, please contact:

The Public Policy Development Branch
613-580-2400, ext. 29529
BylawReviews@ottawa.ca

In February 2024, Council approved an update to the existing Fees and Charges for Ottawa Fire Services By-law (No. 2020-195) to regulate and enforce false fire alarms that are deemed a nuisance to the City. This amendment, along with the accompanying False Fire Alarm Strategy, was implemented instead of the proposed False Fire Alarm By-law.

Description

In June 2023, Council approved the following changes to improve on-demand accessible taxicab service in Ottawa: 

• A centralized dispatch dedicated to on-demand accessible taxicabs
• Several financial incentives to accessible taxicab plate holder licensees and drivers that recognize the higher costs of operating an accessible taxicab
• A three-year pilot to provide an opportunity for evaluation of the efficacy of the proposed initiatives

Results

To support these changes, several updates were made to the Vehicle-for-Hire By-law (No. 2016-272) including:

• Reducing the accessible plate holder license transfer fee to $312 per plate transfer
• Removing the requirement that standard and accessible taxicab vehicles must be less than five model years of age upon entry to the fleet
• Increasing the current ten-year vehicle age limit to 12 model years for taxicab vehicles that are fully wheelchair accessible, fully electric or hybrid

A City of Ottawa centralized dispatch system respecting on-demand accessible taxicab service has been established. Future work includes reporting back to Council before the end of the proposed three-year pilot project.

By-law and Regulatory Services expects to report annually on the changes made to improve on-demand accessible taxicab service in Ottawa.

Reports

June 15, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee

June 28, 2023 – City Council

Contact

Christine Hartig
613-580-2400, ext. 25629
christine.hartig@ottawa.ca

Description

In Ontario, the sale of both tobacco and vaping products is regulated by the Smoke-Free Ontario Act.

In Ottawa, tobacco product retailers are also regulated through the Licensing By-law (No. 2002-189) and are required to obtain a business license from the City in order to operate.

This review considered:

• Whether vaping product retailers should also be licensed or further regulated by the City of Ottawa
• Whether specific regulations for vaping product retailers could help address public health and enforcement issues related to the sale and distribution of vaping products

This review is part of the City’s comprehensive Licensing By-law Review, scheduled for completion in 2026.

Results

On October 30, 2024, City Council approved a new business licence requirement for vapour product retailers, which will take effect on November 30, 2024.

The new licensing requirement contains the following rules:

• An annual business licence is required to operate as a vapour product retailer, including payment of an annual licensing fee.
• A separate licence is required for each premises that sells vapour products.
• All licensed vapour product retailers and their employees must comply, at all times, with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 and the Tobacco and Vaping Products Act.

As part of this review, City Council directed the City Clerk to request that the Province of Ontario amend the Smoke-Free Ontario Act to include vapour product sales offences within automatic prohibition order applications. These orders can force stores to stop selling products for a set period of time if they have been found to violate rules like selling to minors.

You can watch the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee Presentation where staff explain the results and recommendations from this regulatory review.

Reports

October 17, 2024 – Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee

October 30, 2024 – City Council

Contact

For questions about business licence administration and enforcement, please visit the Tobacco and Vapour Product Retailer Licence page or contact:

The Business Licensing Centre
613-580-2424 ext. 12735
businesslicensing@ottawa.ca

For questions about the Review of Potential Regulations for Vapour Product Retailers, please contact:

The Public Policy Development Branch
613-580-2400, ext. 29529

bylawreviews@ottawa.ca

For more information about this review, click on the link below:

Proposed Right-of-Way Patio By-law Amendments | Right-of-Way Patio By-law and Guideline Review | Engage Ottawa

Description

Staff have completed a review of the Site Alteration By-law based on Council’s direction.

Results

On October 16, Council approved updates to the Site Alteration By-law. The new by-law was enacted and came into effect on October 30, 2024, replacing the former by-law 2018-164.

The by-law updates included:

• Simplifying language around automatic agricultural exemptions and clarifying regulations to ensure normal farm practices are not restricted
• Adjusting the schedule indicating the by-law’s environmental protections to include lands approximately one kilometre from the urban boundary and urban expansion areas included in the Official Plan (a reduction in most cases from the previous two kilometre limit around the urban boundary)
• Revising drainage provisions to focus on surface drainage and deviations from approved drainage patterns
• Removing notification requirements for projects not associated with a Planning Act application
• Making administrative changes to reflect new Official Plan terminology, the new Tree Protection By-law, and organizational changes made at the City since the by-law was approved in 2018

Reports

October 3, 2024 - Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee - October 03, 2024 (escribemeetings.com)

October 16, 2024 – City Council - October 16, 2024 (escribemeetings.com)

Contact

Amy MacPherson

Natural Systems Planner

Amy.macpherson@ottawa.ca

Description

Snow Plow Contractors are one of the business groups that the City of Ottawa regulates through the Licensing By-law (No. 2002-189). City staff conducted a review of these regulations in 2024.

The  Snow Plow Contractor Licensing Review considered:

• Provide a comprehensive review and update of all existing regulations for snow plows
• Explore the use of broadband back-up alarms by private snow plow operators/licensees for certain vehicle types
• Report back on the findings of the metal driveway marker pilot
• Inform the Licensing By-law review, scheduled for 2026

Results

On October 2, 2024, City Council approved the new Schedule 4 of the Licensing By-law (No. 2002-189). This new by-law takes effect on October 16, 2024, and replaces the previous regulations.

The new by-law includes:

• Creating a specific offence for prohibiting dumping snow on private property and on accessible parking spaces.
• Imposing a 4-hour limit for snow plow contractors to clean up snow they have dumped on City property and on accessible parking spaces.
• New vehicle signage standards for snow plows that comply with the City of Ottawa’s Accessibility Design standards (15cm in height, colour contrast of 2:1 with vehicle’s colour, and an Arial font).
• Increasing minimum insurance coverage from $1 million to $2 million for enhanced consumer protection.
• Annual sticker system to be affixed to the existing snow plow vehicle plate.
• Permitting the use of metal driveway markers by licensees.
• Requiring Snow Plow Contractors and property owners to replace their damaged driveway markers and clean up any debris as a result of this damage.
• Clarifying existing exemptions to the licensing requirement, including the exemption for farmers in the rural part of the City.

You can watch the Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee presentation, where staff explain the regulatory recommendations.

Reports

September 19, 2024 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee

October 2, 2024 - City Council

Contact

For questions about enforcement and licence administration, please visit the Snow Plow Contractor Licence page or contact:

The Business Licensing Centre
613-580-2424 ext. 12735
businesslicensing@ottawa.ca

For questions about the Snow Plow Contractor Licensing Review, please contact:

The Public Policy Development Branch
613-580-2400, ext. 29529
BylawReviews@ottawa.ca

Description 

Per Council direction through the 2023-2026 Corporate By-law Review Workplan, staff completed a review of the Solid Waste Management By-law (2012-370). 

The Solid Waste Services By-law, formerly the Solid Waste Management By-law, serves to guide the administration of the City’s waste collection, removal, and disposal programs. It includes a definition of waste streams, levels of service, collection schedules, acceptable material, waste limits, associated fees, operation of the Trail Waste Facility Landfill, and enforcement standards. 

Results 

On October 30, 2024, City Council approved the Solid Waste Services By-law (2024-453). This new by-law will be in force on December 2, 2024, and replaces the Solid Waste Management By-law (2012-370).  

Many of the updates included in the Solid Waste Services By-law are administrative, focusing on revising definitions and provisions for clarity and alignment to current waste legislation, Council approved policies and/or programs, and City operations including curbside collection, containerized (multi-residential) collection, public space waste collection, and operation of the Trail Waste Facility Landfill. 

At a high level, changes to the by-law include: 

• Updated language and definitions for clarity, understanding and alignment to current waste legislation and the Solid Waste Services delivery model; 

• Alignment to the new 3-item set-out limit policy including agricultural exemptions, expansion of both the Yellow Bag program to curbside households and the expansion of the Special Consideration program to include non-hazardous household medical waste; 

• A new section added for Public Space Waste Collection Services to align with the expanded service mandate and address illegal dumping issues; 

• Provisions added for mandatory organics in new multi-residential properties on containerized service; and 

• Provisions strengthened or added to address current enforcement gaps  

Reports 

October 15, 2024 – Environment and Climate Change Committee  
October 30, 2024 – City Council 

Contact

Andrea Gay Farley
613-580-2400, ext. 28121
andrea.gayfarley@ottawa.ca

Description

In April 2021, Council approved the reports entitled Short-Term Rental By-law and Zoning By-law Amendments to Permit the Short-Term Rental of Residential Dwelling Units City-Wide to implement a complete regulatory regime for short-term rentals in Ottawa.

This regulatory regime was implemented following a number of community complaints about nuisance associated with short-term rentals and arising concerns regarding the impacts of short-term rentals on housing availability and affordability.

Nuisance complaints included:

• Neighborhood disruptions such as ghost hotels
• “Party” houses resulting in an increase in by-law complaints for noise, parking, property standards, and exterior waste and debris
• Damage to neighbouring properties and several criminal incidents investigated by Ottawa Police

The regulatory regime under the Short-Term Rental By-law and the zoning amendments work together to create a regulated environment that provides an opportunity for short-term rental activity where it is most appropriate in the city and mitigates the negative impacts of unregulated short-term rentals.

Results

Following a one-year implementation, the Short-Term Rental regulatory regime has been operating as intended. There has been some decline in community nuisance issues. Additionally, an increasing number of property owners are reverting to long-term rentals due to permit ineligibility, thus improving the available housing supply.

For more information, visit the Short-Term Rentals page.

Reports

September 21, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee

Contact

Kayla Woods
613-580-2424, ext. 12389
kayla.woods@ottawa.ca

Description

Tow Service Operators, Tow Trucks Drivers, and Vehicle Storage Facility Operators were previously regulated by the City of Ottawa through the Licensing By-law (No. 2002-189).

Since January 1 2024, the towing industry has been regulated by the Province of Ontario under the Towing and Storage Safety Enforcement Act, 2021.

Provincial regulations have replaced the City’s regulatory regime for this sector. 

This by-law review:

• Assessed the proposed Provincial towing rules and their impact the City’s existing towing regulations
• Made recommendations for any required changes to existing the Licensing By-law for towing
• Inform the Licensing By-law review, scheduled for 2026

Get involved

The consultation period is complete.

Reports

Winter 2024 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Service Committee

Note: All dates are subject to change.

Contact

Public Policy Development Branch

613-580-2400 ext. 29529

BylawReviews@ottawa.ca

For more information about this review, click on the link below:

Updates to the City of Ottawa Use and Care of Roads By-law 2003-498 | Engage Ottawa