New Technology Solution: Building, Planning & Land Development

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The City of Ottawa has undertaken a multi-year, technology project to replace components of the 20-year-old Municipal Application Partnership (MAP) software solution. The MAP software solution currently used for land development applications, permits and licensing by the Planning, Development and Building Services Department (PDBSD) has reached end-of-life and requires modernization.

The city has signed a contract with COMPUTRONIX to implement their POSSE Land Management Software (LMS) for processing applications and permits. The POSSE LMS has been on the market for over 25 years and is now a significant competitor for many North American municipalities. This new technology solution will help

The City of Ottawa has undertaken a multi-year, technology project to replace components of the 20-year-old Municipal Application Partnership (MAP) software solution. The MAP software solution currently used for land development applications, permits and licensing by the Planning, Development and Building Services Department (PDBSD) has reached end-of-life and requires modernization.

The city has signed a contract with COMPUTRONIX to implement their POSSE Land Management Software (LMS) for processing applications and permits. The POSSE LMS has been on the market for over 25 years and is now a significant competitor for many North American municipalities. This new technology solution will help modernize business processes to better serve residents, businesses and meet the city's evolving technology needs.

This modern software provides many advantages which includes:

  • A consistent user-friendly experience across multiple devices
  • Self-serve access and secure online payment options for the public
  • A mobile-friendly, bilingual, accessible, online web interface with responsive design
  • Remote access to real time information and tools for field workers using a mobile application

What does this mean for YOU?

This new technology solution introduces a Customer Portal, and with it the ability to fully submit an application on any mobile device, from the comfort of your own home or work site. This new paperless process, allows you, the applicant, to enter information, upload plans and submit payment, without traveling to your nearest Client Service Center. You may check on the status of your application by routinely logging into your Customer Portal to view updates and comments from staff.

The project will use a phased in approach with two phases over approximately a five-year period.

Check out the life cycle for more information on the project timelines.

Launch Date Announcements!

Phase 1

Launch 2 - Now Live!

Building Code Services online permits and applications are available online and include the following:

  • Access to Building Permit Records
  • Compliance Reporting
  • Building Permits and related applications
  • Building Enforcement, Prosecutions, and Inspections
  • Municipal Addressing and Permanent Sign Permits
  • Request for Service (RFS) - Building Code
  • Applications for 911 Blade Signs
  • Municipal Notification Agency and Letter of Approval and for the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO)



Phase 2 (2027, to be announced)

  • Applications related to Planning Services, Right of Way, Heritage & Urban Design and Committee of Adjustment.


The modern technology is an exciting transformation for the city which will require a period of transition. Thank you for your patience and understanding.


See FAQs for more details.

For more information on city planning, development and construction visit ottawa.ca.

Questions & Answers


If you have any questions on the New Technology Solution for Building Permits and Land Development Applications or the engagement process, please feel free to ask your question here. 

We will answer all feedback and questions within three business days. 

Please note if questions are specific, they will be answered via email. You must have an Engage Ottawa account to ask a question. 

Thank you!

You need to be signed in to add your question.

  • Share Your website indicates that Building Permit applications will be done through the LMS portal starting in early 2023. As an Architect, we usually act on behalf of our clients to make building permit applications. In order to do this, we receive a cheque from our client to make payment for the permit at the time of the submission. It appears from your website that payment will be completed online now. Will consultants be able to make these online applications on behalf of their clients with a payment from the client coming at a later time? Or are clients expected to be making these applications themselves because your system does not allow for a later separate payment. Please clarify, as we will need to brief and prepare our clients of any upcoming changes to the process. James Chapman on Facebook Share Your website indicates that Building Permit applications will be done through the LMS portal starting in early 2023. As an Architect, we usually act on behalf of our clients to make building permit applications. In order to do this, we receive a cheque from our client to make payment for the permit at the time of the submission. It appears from your website that payment will be completed online now. Will consultants be able to make these online applications on behalf of their clients with a payment from the client coming at a later time? Or are clients expected to be making these applications themselves because your system does not allow for a later separate payment. Please clarify, as we will need to brief and prepare our clients of any upcoming changes to the process. James Chapman on Twitter Share Your website indicates that Building Permit applications will be done through the LMS portal starting in early 2023. As an Architect, we usually act on behalf of our clients to make building permit applications. In order to do this, we receive a cheque from our client to make payment for the permit at the time of the submission. It appears from your website that payment will be completed online now. Will consultants be able to make these online applications on behalf of their clients with a payment from the client coming at a later time? Or are clients expected to be making these applications themselves because your system does not allow for a later separate payment. Please clarify, as we will need to brief and prepare our clients of any upcoming changes to the process. James Chapman on Linkedin Email Your website indicates that Building Permit applications will be done through the LMS portal starting in early 2023. As an Architect, we usually act on behalf of our clients to make building permit applications. In order to do this, we receive a cheque from our client to make payment for the permit at the time of the submission. It appears from your website that payment will be completed online now. Will consultants be able to make these online applications on behalf of their clients with a payment from the client coming at a later time? Or are clients expected to be making these applications themselves because your system does not allow for a later separate payment. Please clarify, as we will need to brief and prepare our clients of any upcoming changes to the process. James Chapman link

    Your website indicates that Building Permit applications will be done through the LMS portal starting in early 2023. As an Architect, we usually act on behalf of our clients to make building permit applications. In order to do this, we receive a cheque from our client to make payment for the permit at the time of the submission. It appears from your website that payment will be completed online now. Will consultants be able to make these online applications on behalf of their clients with a payment from the client coming at a later time? Or are clients expected to be making these applications themselves because your system does not allow for a later separate payment. Please clarify, as we will need to brief and prepare our clients of any upcoming changes to the process. James Chapman

    James Chapman asked almost 2 years ago

    Hello James,

    Thank you for your question. This will present a bit of a change from our current practices but there are some potential options.

    First, the client could apply for the permit through the online portal but then they would be the manager of that permit through their online portal for all permit activities including but not limited to: paying fees, resubmitting plans and booking inspections.

    Another option would be for you to apply for the permit, collect payment from the client and then make payments from your account online. You would progress the job to a state where payment is required and either bring the clients cheque into one of our counters or have them deliver it.  The latter would be very similar to how things are done today, but the purpose of the new system is to move traffic away from our counters to online, therefore this is not the preferred long term solution.

    At this point, as we are still in the process of configuration we have not been able to test the full functionality of the system.  There may be more options available to meet the needs outlined in this scenario that we are not fully aware of and will review.

     We hope this is helpful, If you have any further questions please let us know.

     

    Thank you, '


    LMS Project Team

  • Share Can you confirm if the Fall 2021 portal will have full access to the Building Reports and Compliance Reports for all civic addresses? Will there be a cost to pull these reports that you can confirm at this time? I work in residential real estate and getting accurate information on residential properties has been a friction point for our team. Thanks -Dave- on Facebook Share Can you confirm if the Fall 2021 portal will have full access to the Building Reports and Compliance Reports for all civic addresses? Will there be a cost to pull these reports that you can confirm at this time? I work in residential real estate and getting accurate information on residential properties has been a friction point for our team. Thanks -Dave- on Twitter Share Can you confirm if the Fall 2021 portal will have full access to the Building Reports and Compliance Reports for all civic addresses? Will there be a cost to pull these reports that you can confirm at this time? I work in residential real estate and getting accurate information on residential properties has been a friction point for our team. Thanks -Dave- on Linkedin Email Can you confirm if the Fall 2021 portal will have full access to the Building Reports and Compliance Reports for all civic addresses? Will there be a cost to pull these reports that you can confirm at this time? I work in residential real estate and getting accurate information on residential properties has been a friction point for our team. Thanks -Dave- link

    Can you confirm if the Fall 2021 portal will have full access to the Building Reports and Compliance Reports for all civic addresses? Will there be a cost to pull these reports that you can confirm at this time? I work in residential real estate and getting accurate information on residential properties has been a friction point for our team. Thanks -Dave-

    Dave Williams asked over 3 years ago

    Thank you for your question and feedback.  

    Yes, the new Service Ottawa Customer Portal will continue to provide Compliance Reports and Access to Building Permit Records programs as per the existing Building Code policies found on Ottawa.ca and outlined here: Access to Building Permit Records | City of Ottawa and Compliance reports | City of Ottawa . 

    The new Service Ottawa Customer Portal offers clients and residents the ability to submit their application(s) online and pay electronically. After setting up the account, applications and documents are reviewed by staff who generate reports that clients can self-serve via the portal and access the completed Compliance Report and permit documents. The cost associated with the Compliance Reports and Access to Building Permit Information remain the same as they were according to the latest by-law, aside from any service fees applicable. 

     If you have any further questions, please contact LMS_Info@ottawa.ca

    City of Ottawa

    LMS Project Team

  • Share Further to your response to James Chapman, I would like to direct the LMS team to the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) website regarding the role of the architect regarding a permit application. In Practice Tip PT.08, the OAA has advised Architects to not sign the building permit application, but to have the Owner sign this form. However, it is common practice for the Architect to complete all the documents for the Owner and to submit the permit to the City as part of their scope of work on the project. Similarly, Architects do not pay the building permit fee, but pay for the permit using a cheque received from the Owner. In many cases, the Owner does not have the staff to carry out the application for a permit and includes this task within the scope of work of the Architect. Your new application process should be set up recognizing these common current practices, that will allow Architects working on behalf of Owners to make the submission online, but with the ability for the Owner to sign and pay for the application. James Chapman on Facebook Share Further to your response to James Chapman, I would like to direct the LMS team to the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) website regarding the role of the architect regarding a permit application. In Practice Tip PT.08, the OAA has advised Architects to not sign the building permit application, but to have the Owner sign this form. However, it is common practice for the Architect to complete all the documents for the Owner and to submit the permit to the City as part of their scope of work on the project. Similarly, Architects do not pay the building permit fee, but pay for the permit using a cheque received from the Owner. In many cases, the Owner does not have the staff to carry out the application for a permit and includes this task within the scope of work of the Architect. Your new application process should be set up recognizing these common current practices, that will allow Architects working on behalf of Owners to make the submission online, but with the ability for the Owner to sign and pay for the application. James Chapman on Twitter Share Further to your response to James Chapman, I would like to direct the LMS team to the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) website regarding the role of the architect regarding a permit application. In Practice Tip PT.08, the OAA has advised Architects to not sign the building permit application, but to have the Owner sign this form. However, it is common practice for the Architect to complete all the documents for the Owner and to submit the permit to the City as part of their scope of work on the project. Similarly, Architects do not pay the building permit fee, but pay for the permit using a cheque received from the Owner. In many cases, the Owner does not have the staff to carry out the application for a permit and includes this task within the scope of work of the Architect. Your new application process should be set up recognizing these common current practices, that will allow Architects working on behalf of Owners to make the submission online, but with the ability for the Owner to sign and pay for the application. James Chapman on Linkedin Email Further to your response to James Chapman, I would like to direct the LMS team to the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) website regarding the role of the architect regarding a permit application. In Practice Tip PT.08, the OAA has advised Architects to not sign the building permit application, but to have the Owner sign this form. However, it is common practice for the Architect to complete all the documents for the Owner and to submit the permit to the City as part of their scope of work on the project. Similarly, Architects do not pay the building permit fee, but pay for the permit using a cheque received from the Owner. In many cases, the Owner does not have the staff to carry out the application for a permit and includes this task within the scope of work of the Architect. Your new application process should be set up recognizing these common current practices, that will allow Architects working on behalf of Owners to make the submission online, but with the ability for the Owner to sign and pay for the application. James Chapman link

    Further to your response to James Chapman, I would like to direct the LMS team to the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) website regarding the role of the architect regarding a permit application. In Practice Tip PT.08, the OAA has advised Architects to not sign the building permit application, but to have the Owner sign this form. However, it is common practice for the Architect to complete all the documents for the Owner and to submit the permit to the City as part of their scope of work on the project. Similarly, Architects do not pay the building permit fee, but pay for the permit using a cheque received from the Owner. In many cases, the Owner does not have the staff to carry out the application for a permit and includes this task within the scope of work of the Architect. Your new application process should be set up recognizing these common current practices, that will allow Architects working on behalf of Owners to make the submission online, but with the ability for the Owner to sign and pay for the application. James Chapman

    James Chapman asked almost 2 years ago

    Hello James,

    Thank you for your feedback and additional information.

    The LMS Project Team is committed to stakeholder engagement and will continue to review the details related to this function to best meet user needs, upon release.

     

    LMS Project Team

  • Share What is Land Management Software? on Facebook Share What is Land Management Software? on Twitter Share What is Land Management Software? on Linkedin Email What is Land Management Software? link

    What is Land Management Software?

    over 3 years ago

    Hello Darren,

    Thank you for your question.

    The Land Management Software is a browser-based, enterprise solution that can easily automate workflows associated with building, planning, engineering, permitting, inspections, code enforcement, and other land management activities.  

    If you have any other questions, please let us know!

    LMS Project Team

Page last updated: 24 Oct 2024, 04:31 PM