Development Application Search Tool

Start your development application search.

This search tool has been designed to give residents greater access to development applications that have been submitted to the City of Ottawa. You can use this tool to locate applications in your neighbourhood or ward, review reports and plans submitted, and to provide feedback. Within each application, there’s a direct link to provide comments to the File Lead assigned to the application. Once the application is available for review, the standard time period for commenting on an application is 28 days.

Applications must include all required plans, studies and have completed their required circulation to technical agencies and registered community organizations before posting online. The City makes every effort to post new information on development applications on this site as the information becomes available, however, some delays may occur.

Applications are only available online if they are subject to public consultation, meaning that the application falls into one of the following categories:

• Site Plan Control
• Official Plan Amendment
• Zoning By-law Amendment
• Demolition Control
• Plan of Subdivision
• Plan of Condominium

If your search is unsuccessful and you believe that an application has been filed, you may contact one of the Development Review Managers below.

Central (Wards 12, 13, 14, 15, 17) - DR Central

East (Wards 2, 11, urban part of 1, 19 and 20) - DR East

West (Wards 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 23) - DR West

South (Wards 3, 10, 16, 18, 22, 24) - DR South

Rural (Wards 5, 21 and rural part of 1, 19 and 20) - DR Rural

All Wards (non-profit housing providers and school boards) - DR All Wards

Notification of planning studies and development applications for community organizations

Community organizations may be eligible to receive notification of planning studies and development applications. To learn more, review the eligibility requirements and the City’s Public Notification and Consultation Policy.

Depending on the type of application, decisions are made by:

• City Council
• Planning and Housing Committee (Urban and Suburban Area)
• Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (Rural Area)
• Planning, Real Estate and Economic Development Department staff (Delegated Authority)

Delegated Authority

The Planning Act permits a municipal Council to delegate their approval authority to City staff for some development applications. It is possible for an individual Councillor to withdraw delegated authority and send the matter to either the Planning and Housing Committee or the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. City Council makes all decisions on Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications.

Appeals

• Appeals to heritage applications to alter for individually designated properties (Part IV) are referred to the Conservation Review Board.
• Other application decisions can be appealed by members of the public to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), with the exception of Site Plan Control, Plan of Subdivision, Plan of Condominium and applications that are submitted under the Ontario Heritage Act, where a decision can only be appealed by the applicant or specified persons.
• Please note that the grounds for an appeal, in the case of a zoning by-law amendment, are restricted to inconsistency with the Official Plan or a provincial policy statement and in the case of an official plan amendment to inconsistency with a provincial policy statement.

The Review Status indicates the stage of an application's review process:

• Community Head's-Up Completed indicates that the appropriate community organizations registered with the City have been notified of the proposal.
• Comment Period in Progress indicates that the File Lead is accepting comments for a 28-day period beginning the day that an application is circulated.
• Comment Period has Ended/Issue Resolution indicates that the time period for commenting on an application has ended.
• Application File Pending is applied when unforeseen difficulties or delays occur during the review of an application.
• Application Approved indicates that an application has been approved by the relevant Planning Branch Manager. This term will only apply to applications that can be approved through Delegated Authority.

Official Plan Amendment or Zoning By-law Amendment

• Amendment Recommended to Council for Approval, means that either the Planning and Housing Committee or the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee has recommended the adoption of the Official Plan Amendment or Zoning By-law Amendment to Council.
• Application Approved by Council means that Council has approved the recommended Official Plan Amendment or Zoning By-law Amendment.
• OLT Package Sent or Appealed to the OLT, means that Council’s decision has been appealed to OLT.

For applications submitted under the Ontario Heritage Act:

• Report in progress - indicates that the File Lead is writing the report
• Report completed - indicates that the File Lead has finished writing the report. The report will be considered by the Built Heritage Committee, if required Planning and Housing Committee and Council.
• Heritage Permit Approved - indicates that the report was approved by City Council, and the heritage permit has been issued.
• Heritage Permit Refused - indicated that the report was refused by City Council.

It is important to note that all materials posted in support of a development application are removed from the web site 1 year after a decision has been granted. In addition, materials supporting development applications submitted prior to February 1, 2008 are not available for online viewing.