Zoning By-law 2008-250 Consolidation

Disclaimer

By-laws contained in this section have been prepared for research and reference purposes only. Original by-laws are available for consultation at the City of Ottawa Archives and the Ottawa Public Library Main branch. For legal purposes, certified copies of by-laws may be obtained from the City of Ottawa Archives.

City Archives
James Bartleman Centre
100 Tallwood Dr. (corner of Woodroffe Ave.)
Ottawa, Ontario
Telephone: 613-580-2857
Email: archives@ottawa.ca

Ottawa Public Library
120 Metcalfe St., Ottawa Room
Ottawa, Ontario
Telephone: 613-580-2940

Information and updates on the City of Ottawa's new zoning by-law can be found on the project’s EngageOttawa page.

This consolidation of the Zoning By-law is current to November 24, 2023.

This consolidation of the City of Ottawa Zoning By-law, By-law 2008-250 and the amendments thereto, is prepared for reference purposes only. While the Planning, Infrastructure and Economic Development Department makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the reader is advised that as this publication is an office consolidation, in situations where legal accuracy is important, the By-law itself and any amending by-laws thereto must be consulted.

Please note: A listing of pending and amending by-laws to Zoning By-law No. 2008-250 can be referenced in Appendix B – the Amendment Schedule to the Zoning By-law and Interim Control By-laws. Appendix B should be read in conjunction with the consolidated Zoning By-law.

For information about these amending by-laws and the applicability of their regulations, please contact 3-1-1 and request to speak to the Development Information Officer (DIO) for the geographic area in question.

Copies of individual zoning amendment by-laws can be obtained at the following locations:

City Hall Client Service Center
1st Floor, 110 Laurier Avenue West

Central Archives
100 Tallwood Dr. (Corner of Woodroffe)
Ottawa, Ontario 
tel.: 613-580-2857
fax :613-580-2614
e-mail: archives@ottawa.ca

Part 1 – Administration, Interpretation and Definitions (Sections 1-54)

This page provides the text of the Zoning By-law (Parts 1 to 16) and a link to the Schedules which are site specific illustrations of provisions (Parts 17) and Zoning Maps (Part 18). Parts 1 to 5 comprise the provisions that apply City-wide, Parts 6 to 14 are the various zoning codes, Part 15 are the list of exceptions to the zoning codes and Part 16 contains additional information. The provisions of the existing zoning by-laws are not available on the City’s web site. The City of Ottawa Zoning By-law is made available on the web site for information, however confirmation on the zoning provisions should be sought through the City’s development information officers (DIO), by contacting 311 and asking for the DIO for the geographic area in question.

Part 2 – General Provisions (Sections 55-75) 

In this part you will find provisions that apply to all land uses (e.g. adequate municipal services, frontage on a public street) or to lands located in identified areas in specific situations (e.g. heritage areas, flood plain districts).

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 3 – Specific Use Provisions (Sections 76-99) 

Specific Use Provisions are described in this part. These provisions apply, on a City-wide basis, to a particular land use (e.g. snow disposal facilities, utility installations).

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 4 – Parking, Queuing and Loading Provisions (Sections 100-114)

The information contained in this part clarifies all provisions for motor vehicle and bicycle parking, loading spaces and drive-through (queuing) spaces. The City of Ottawa Zoning By-law is made available on the web site for information, however confirmation on the zoning provisions should be sought through the City’s development information officers (DIO), by contacting 311 and asking for the DIO for the geographic area in question.

Part 5 – Residential Provisions (Sections 120-146) 

This part contains provisions that apply specifically to residential dwellings located throughout the whole of the City, and includes regulations for uses including conversions, group homes, home-based businesses, and additional dwelling units.

The City of Ottawa Zoning By-law is made available on the web site for information, however confirmation on the zoning provisions should be sought through the City’s development information officers (DIO), by contacting 311 and asking for the DIO for the geographic area in question.

Part 6 – Residential Zones (Sections 155-168)

This part contains the Urban and Suburban residential zones that apply to the City and includes:

In the Urban/Suburban area the R1- Residential First Density (detached dwellings), R2- Residential Second Density (two unit dwellings), R3- Residential Third Density (townhouse dwellings), R4- Residential Fourth Density (low rise apartments), R5- Residential Fifth Density (mid/high-rise apartments) and the RM-Mobile Home zone applies to all areas. (By-law 2012-334)

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 7 – Institutional Zones (Sections 169-172)

This part contains the institutional zones that are applied to the urban and suburban areas of the City, and includes the I1-Minor Institutional Zone (e.g. schools and places of worship) and the Major Institutional Zone (e.g. universities, colleges and hospitals).

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 8 – Open Space and Leisure Zones (Sections 173-180)

This part contains the O1- Parks and Open Space (City-wide), L1- Community Leisure (urban local facilities), L2- Major Leisure Facility (urban City-wide facilities) and L3- Central Experimental Farm Zones.

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 9 – Environmental Zones (Sections 183-184)

In this part you will find information on the EP-Environmental Protection Zone that is applied to areas designated as Urban Natural Feature and Significant Wetland in the Official Plan. (By-law 2012-334)

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 10 – Mixed Use/Commercial Zones (Sections 185-198)

This part comprises the zones that are applied to the urban and suburban areas of the City in accordance with the mixed-use and commercial land use designations of the Official Plan, and includes the LC- Local Commercial, GM- General Mixed Use, TM- Traditional Mainstreet, AM-Arterial Mainstreet, MC- Mixed Use Centre and MD- Mixed-Use Downtown Zones.

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 11 – Industrial Zones (Sections 199-206)

The information contained in this part covers the zones applied to the urban and suburban areas of the City in accordance with the industrial land use designations of the Official Plan, and includes the IP-Business Park, IL-Light Industrial, IG- General Industrial and IH-Heavy Industrial Zones.

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 12 – Transportation Zones (Sections 207-210)

This part contains the transportation zones that apply to the urban and suburban areas of the City and includes the T1- Air Transportation Facility (airports) and T2- Ground Transportation Facility Zones (bus and train terminals).

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 13 – Rural Zones (Sections 211-236)

This section of the Zoning By-law deals with the Greenbelt and the Rural Area.

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 14 – Other Zones (Sections 237-238)

This part contains the DR-Development Reserve Zone that applies to urban and suburban  future growth areas and to the Developing Community designation of the Official Plan.

The City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw is made available on the website for information, however if you require the services of a Development Information Officer, please call 613-580-2424 ext.23434 or e-mail DIOInquiry@ottawa.ca and include the subject address, proposed use, and other pertinent information relevant to the inquiry.  Upon receipt of the inquiry, a phone call or an email response will be provided within 2 to 3 business days, in the event more information is required there will be options to allow for further discussion.

Part 16 - Appendices - Administrative Lists and Processes

Part 17 – Schedules

Part 18 – Zoning Maps 

Part 19 – Section 37 Provisions