The permissions in the Zoning By-law (No. 2026-50) relating to creating new front yard parking spaces are not in effect until the Ontario Land Tribunal declares those by-law regulations in effect. The City anticipated this happening by the end of September 2026.
As a direct result, permit applications to install an access — or to widen an existing access — serving a new front yard parking space cannot be processed at this time.
This page reflects the City's published position when it was written. Check the City's access permit page for the current status before you rely on it.
What this does and doesn't block
| Your project | Affected? |
|---|---|
| Creating a new parking space in the front yard, needing a new or widened access | Yes — the application can't be processed yet |
| Widening an existing driveway that already serves permitted parking | No, subject to the usual width rules |
| Resurfacing or rebuilding an existing driveway at the same dimensions | No |
| Extending a driveway behind the building line, no change at the access | No — a zoning question, not an access one |
| A permeable paving retrofit of an existing driveway | No |
If you are unsure which row you are in, that is worth resolving before you pay a non-refundable application fee. A Development Information Officer will tell you: 613-580-2424 ext. 23434, dioinquiry@ottawa.ca.
Why there's a tribunal involved at all
Ottawa adopted a new Zoning By-law (No. 2026-50). Zoning by-laws can be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and where a provision is under appeal it does not come into force until the Tribunal says so. The front yard parking provisions are in that position. It is a procedural hold rather than a decision on the merits, and the City's own expectation was that it would lift by the end of September 2026.
What to do while it's paused
The hold is on processing the application, not on planning the project. Given that Ottawa's construction season ends in mid-November and contractors' calendars fill from July, a hold in late September realistically means a spring build either way. That makes this a good moment to:
- Confirm the width you would be permitted once the provisions are in force, so the design is ready to file. Work out your maximum →
- Get the design drawn to the Access Design Requirements — width, distance from the neighbouring property line, distance from an intersection, slope.
- Settle the quote and hold a spring slot, rather than joining the queue in April with everyone else.
- Check the rebate, if you are considering permeable paving. Rain Ready Ottawa is first-come, first-served and funding is limited each year. Eligibility pre-check →
- File the moment the hold lifts.
A word on not waiting
We would rather lose the job than watch a customer pave a front yard parking space without the permission, on the theory that nobody checks. An access constructed without a permit does not become lawful with time, and unpermitted work in the right of way can be subject to removal at the owner's expense. Enforcement in Ottawa has been publicly criticised as inconsistent — which cuts both ways, and is a poor thing to bet $8,000 on. What happened in Barrhaven →
Get your front yard design ready to file
We'll confirm the permitted width, prepare the design to the City's requirements and hold you a spring slot, so you can file the day the hold lifts.