Growing food and allowing planters in residential boulevard gardens
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City Council has expanded the gardening permissions for residents in the City-owned boulevard next to their property.
What’s new:
Owners and tenants can replace the grass in the boulevard abutting residential property with an alternative groundcover that grows to 20cm. This includes in areas around a municipal tree, fire hydrant or on the slope of a ditch.
Residents can plant food in their boulevard garden.
Raised garden beds, containers and plant supports are allowed in some areas.
It is up to each resident to judge the suitability of their location and ability to maintain a garden before starting a gardening project.
Visit ottawa.ca/rightofway to learn more about residential boulevard gardens, the rules to follow, how to identify the boulevard next to your property and special considerations for growing food in this space.
Why did the City conduct this review?
In 2023, City Council passed amendments to the Use and Care of Roads By-law (By-law No. 2003-498) to allow the owner, and tenants, of land zoned residential to undertake gardening projects in the boulevard abutting their property. At that time, the by-law provisions stated that plants intended in whole or in part for consumption (food) were not permitted, but staff had committed to further review. Staff were also directed to review the matter of allowing planter boxes in boulevard gardens.
City Council has expanded the gardening permissions for residents in the City-owned boulevard next to their property.
What’s new:
Owners and tenants can replace the grass in the boulevard abutting residential property with an alternative groundcover that grows to 20cm. This includes in areas around a municipal tree, fire hydrant or on the slope of a ditch.
Residents can plant food in their boulevard garden.
Raised garden beds, containers and plant supports are allowed in some areas.
It is up to each resident to judge the suitability of their location and ability to maintain a garden before starting a gardening project.
Visit ottawa.ca/rightofway to learn more about residential boulevard gardens, the rules to follow, how to identify the boulevard next to your property and special considerations for growing food in this space.
Why did the City conduct this review?
In 2023, City Council passed amendments to the Use and Care of Roads By-law (By-law No. 2003-498) to allow the owner, and tenants, of land zoned residential to undertake gardening projects in the boulevard abutting their property. At that time, the by-law provisions stated that plants intended in whole or in part for consumption (food) were not permitted, but staff had committed to further review. Staff were also directed to review the matter of allowing planter boxes in boulevard gardens.
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On April 16, 2025, Council approved the recommendations for the amendments to residential boulevard gardening regulations in the Use and Care of Roads By-law. The new regulations will come into effect on April 30, 2025.
What’s new?
Owners of land zoned residential can replace any of the grass in the boulevard abutting their property with herbaceous groundcover plants that grow to 20 cm in height
Food can be planted in a boulevard garden
Stationary raised garden beds are allowed under certain conditions
Moveable containers are allowed under certain conditions
Plant supports are allowed under certain conditions
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On March 27, the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee carried the report and recommendations for the amendments to residential boulevard gardening regulations in the Use and Care of Roads By-law.
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Staff will present the Amendments to Residential Boulevard Gardening Regulations in the Use and Care of Roads By-law report and recommendations to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee (PWIC) on Thursday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m.
Thank you to all the residents and community partners for your engagement on this review. Your feedback was valuable in the development of the recommended by-law updates.
If you would like to join as a delegate to speak at committee, you must register in advance. You may also submit a written delegation to show support or disagreement with recommendations. The contact information to request to be a delegate is below. You can find more information on how to participate in Council and committee proceedings here: Get involved in local government | City of Ottawa
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Thank you to everyone who submitted a response to the Residential Boulevard Gardening Survey (December 1st to 31, 2024).
The following document provides a summary of the survey results:
The results of this engagement will be used to further develop staff’s recommendations for updated by-law provisions. Recommendations will be included in the staff report to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee and City Council for their consideration and approval in 2025.
Why did the City conduct this review?
