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.
City staff want your feedback on potential by-law updates related to gardens planted by residents in the City-owned boulevard adjacent to their property. The survey will be open until December 31, 2024.
For accessible survey formats or communications supports (paper, large font, audio, Braille, phone survey), please contact boulevardgardening@ottawa.ca.
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Why did the City conduct this review?
