Survey Results
Our first impressions
Our survey ran on Engage Ottawa from Wednesday May 21 to Friday June 20, 2025, with 217 residents responding.
Our goal was to understand how well Ottawa’s by-laws related to landscaping are understood and to identify where we can make improvements in the clarity and access to that information, including permit requirements.
Survey results indicated a high level of understanding from residents about where to find information on City by-laws. However, the results also highlighted that for many by-laws and some permits, the public’s knowledge and understanding is not where it needs to be in order to ensure compliance with the rules and requirements relating to landscaping work. The majority of respondents indicated that they are either unfamiliar or somewhat familiar with the by-laws, but could use more information for all the by-laws relating to landscaping work.
Over 85 per cent of respondents indicated that training or educational materials would be helpful or somewhat helpful for landscape contractors to ensure compliance with City by-laws, and over 90 per cent indicated that these materials would also be helpful or somewhat helpful for residents. Most respondents indicated that a guide summarizing by-law requirements would be their preferred format for educational materials, however other options such as infographics or short videos were also mentioned. Respondents also indicated that having the rules set out in clear, plain language would be beneficial.
Survey Results
Q1: Please indicate which of the following best describes you.
- I am a landscape contractor: 5 respondents or 2 per cent
- I am a resident: 212 respondents or 98 per cent
Q2: Do you know where to find information about Ottawa’s by-laws?
- Yes: 162 respondents or 75 per cent
- No: 55 respondents or 25 per cent
Q3: There are multiple by-laws that relate to landscaping work. How familiar are you with them?
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Fence By-law (2003-462)
- I am familiar: 27 respondents or 12 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 99 respondents or 46 per cent
- I am not familiar: 74 respondents or 34 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 17 respondents or 8 per cent
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Noise By-law (2017-255)
- I am familiar: 57 respondents or 26 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 113 respondents or 52 per cent
- I am not familiar: 35 respondents or 16 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 11 respondents or 5 per cent
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Pool Enclosure By-law (2013-39)
- I am familiar: 55 respondents or 25 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 74 respondents or 34 per cent
- I am not familiar: 61 respondents or 28 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 26 respondents or 12 per cent
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Private Approach By-law (2003-447)
- I am familiar: 18 respondents or 8 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 41 respondents or 19 per cent
- I am not familiar: 140 respondents or 65 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 17 respondents or 8 per cent
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Property Maintenance By-law (2005-208)
- I am familiar: 30 respondents or 14 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 90 respondents or 42 per cent
- I am not familiar: 79 respondents or 37 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
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Property Standards By-law (2013-416)
- I am familiar: 28 respondents or 13 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 76 respondents or 35 per cent
- I am not familiar: 97 respondents or 45 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
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Road Activity By-law (2003-445)
- I am familiar: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 55 respondents or 26 per cent
- I am not familiar: 130 respondents or 60 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
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Right of Entry By-law (2005-326)
- I am familiar: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 61 respondents or 28 per cent
- I am not familiar: 126 respondents or 58 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 14 respondents or 6 per cent
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Site Alteration By-law (2024-448)
- I am familiar: 13 respondents or 6 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 51 respondents or 24 per cent
- I am not familiar: 133 respondents or 63 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
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Site Plan Control By-law (2014 - 256)
- I am familiar: 14 respondents or 7 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 50 respondents or 23 per cent
- I am not familiar: 136 respondents or 63 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 16 respondents or 7 per cent
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Tree Protection By-law (2020-340)
- I am familiar: 39 respondents or 18 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 98 respondents or 46 per cent
- I am not familiar: 66 respondents or 31 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 11 respondents or 5 per cent
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Use and Care of Roads By-law (2003-498)
- I am familiar: 15 respondents or 7 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 55 respondents or 25 per cent
- I am not familiar: 129 respondents or 60 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 17 respondents or 8 per cent
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Zoning By-law (2008-250)
- I am familiar: 31 respondents or 14 per cent
- I am somewhat familiar, but could use more information: 79 respondents or 37 per cent
- I am not familiar: 91 respondents or 43 per cent
- I have not done or had landscaping work done, so I am unsure how these by-laws apply to me: 12 respondents or 6 per cent
Q4. Some landscaping work requires a permit from the City of Ottawa. Please indicate whether you were aware that the following activities require a permit before work can begin:
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Creating, altering or closing the access from your street to your driveway (i.e., the City’s portion of your driveway)
- Yes: 144 respondents or 66 per cent
- No: 73 respondents or 34 per cent
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Constructing an accessory building greater than 10 square metres (e.g., detached garage, gazebo, pool house, shed, or prefabricated building) or any sized building with plumbing
- Yes: 166 respondents or 76 per cent
- No: 51 respondents or 24 per cent
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Digging into the City right of way (hand digging for the purpose of installing a boulevard garden does not require a permit)
- Yes: 142 respondents or 66 per cent
- No: 73 respondents or 34 per cent
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Entering onto adjoining land to access buildings, fences or other structures for the purposes of making repairs or alterations
- Yes: 95 respondents or 44 per cent
- No: 121 respondents or 56 per cent
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Installing decks more than two feet above grade and/or greater than 10 square metres
- Yes: 120 respondents or 56 per cent
- No: 96 respondents or 44 per cent
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Installing temporary or permanent fencing around a pool, hot tub, or pond
- Yes: 115 respondents or 53 per cent
- No: 101 respondents or 47 per cent
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Removing trees from public property or certain distinctive trees from private property
- Yes: 169 respondents or 79 per cent
- No: 45 respondents or 21 per cent
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Storing material on the roadway, sidewalk or boulevard
- Yes: 123 respondents or 57 per cent
- No: 92 respondents or 43 per cent
Q5. Whether you are a client, a contractor, or a neighbour, it is everyone’s responsibility to understand and follow by-law requirements when planning or conducting a landscaping project.
Are you aware that property owners may be held responsible for the cost associated with correcting landscaping work that is not compliant with city by-laws, even if they hired a landscape contractor?
- Yes: 161 respondents or 75 per cent
- No: 55 respondents or 25 per cent
Q6. In your opinion, how helpful would training or educational materials be to help ensure by-law compliance for landscape contractors?
- Not helpful: 9 respondents or 4 per cent
- Somewhat helpful: 49 respondents or 23 per cent
- Very helpful: 135 respondents or 63 per cent
- Don’t know/Unsure: 22 respondents or 10 per cent
Q7. In your opinion, how helpful would training or educational materials be to help ensure by-law compliance for residents?
- Not helpful: 8 respondents or 4 per cent
- Somewhat helpful: 64 respondents or 30 per cent
- Very helpful: 138 respondents or 64 per cent
- Don’t know/Unsure: 6 respondents or 3 per cent
Q8. Which by-laws would you like more information about? (Select all that apply).
- Fence By-law (2003-462): 92 respondents or 52 per cent
- Noise By-law (2017-255): 84 respondents or 47 per cent
- Pool Enclosure By-law (2013-39): 32 respondents or 18 per cent
- Private Approach By-law (2003-447): 90 respondents or 51 per cent
- Property Maintenance By-law (2005-208): 127 respondents or 71 per cent
- Property Standards By-law (2013-416): 119 respondents or 67 per cent
- Road Activity By-law (2003-445): 70 respondents or 39 per cent
- Right of Entry By-law (2005-326): 81 respondents or 46 per cent
- Site Alteration By-law (2024-448): 110 respondents or 62 per cent
- Site Plan Control By-law (2014-256): 59 respondents or 33 per cent
- Tree Protection By-law (2020-340): 99 respondents or 56 per cent
- Use and Care of Roads By-law (2003-498): 70 respondents or 39 per cent
- Zoning By-law (2008-250): 66 respondents or 37 per cent
Q9. What format(s) would you find helpful? (Select all the apply).
- A guide that summarizes by-law requirements: 178 respondents or 86 per cent
- Virtual information (e.g., a Webinar or video): 82 respondents or 39 per cent
- An information packet from your landscape contractor: 59 respondents or 28 per cent
- Other: 13 respondents or 6 per cent
- Other formats mentioned by respondents included a searchable by-law web page, visual depictions or infographics, short videos, and clear, plain language summaries of by-laws.
Tell us about yourself
The City of Ottawa uses an Equity Diversity & Inclusion lens to ensure we consider diverse needs and perspectives and take steps to remove systemic barriers and support inclusion.
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Would you like to help us by answering some questions about yourself?
- Yes: 131 respondents or 61 per cent
- No: 85 respondents or 39 per cent
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How do you identify your gender?
- Man: 53 respondents or 40 per cent
- Woman: 77 respondents or 59 per cent
- Transgendered: 0 respondents or 0 per cent
- Non-binary: 2 respondents or 1 per cent
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Are you an Aboriginal/Indigenous person?
- No: 130 respondents or 97 per cent
- I am First Nations: 2 respondents or 1 per cent
- I am Inuit: 1 respondent or 1 per cent
- I am Metis: 1 respondent or 1 per cent
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Are you a person with one or more disabilities?
- Yes: 22 respondents or 17 per cent
- No: 107 respondents or 83 per cent
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Are you a member of a visible minority group?
- Yes: 18 respondents or 14 per cent
- No: 113 respondents or 86 per cent
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Please indicate your age from the categories below
- Under 18: 0 respondents or 0 per cent
- 18 to 34: 16 respondents or 12 per cent
- 35 to 54: 46 respondents or 36 per cent
- 55 to 69: 48 respondents or 37 per cent
- 70 or older: 19 respondents or 15 per cent

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