Fall In-Person New Zoning By-law Workshops Continue

The new Zoning By-law project continues to host in-person workshops on the new zoning by-law. Following the summer virtual information sessions, the fall workshops provide an opportunity to discuss the Zoning By-law review with members of the zoning team.

There are three workshops remaining, each starting at 6:30 pm and continuing until 8:00 pm. The upcoming workshops will be held at:

• October 15 – Fred Barrett Arena
• October 22 – City Hall
• November 5 – Confederation Education Centre

What to Expect:

• Display Board Exhibition – Dive into the basics of zoning and key concepts of the proposed By-law. This is your chance to ask questions and get informed.
• Roundtable Discussions – Engage in intensive discussions on various topics with planners and fellow residents.
• No Registration Required – Simply show up and participate.

New 3D Digital Twin Map

We are thrilled to introduce a groundbreaking tool as part of the new Zoning By-law review: the 3D Digital Twin Map. This innovative map is designed to transform how residents and planners visualize zoning changes across Ottawa. With the 3D Digital Twin Map, users can view both the proposed new Zoning By-law zoning and the current (2008-250) Zoning By-law zoning. This dual-view feature ensures that you can easily compare and understand the proposed changes.

This map is the first release from the City’s Digital Twin Project, with future iterations to be integrated into the upcoming new Zoning By-law.

What is a 3D Digital Twin?

A 3D digital twin is a highly detailed, interactive digital replica of physical assets—in this case, the buildings and infrastructure of Ottawa. This technology allows users to explore the city in a virtual environment, providing a comprehensive view of current and proposed zoning regulations. For more information on the Digital Twin Project, refer to the January 21, 2024, Meeting of Planning and Housing Committee Minutes and the accompanying media release.

Other Visualization Tools

In addition to the new 3D Digital Twin Map, you can still view a side-by-side comparison of existing and proposed zoning using our sliding interactive zoning map. You can also view the proposed zoning as a layer on the City’s GeoOttawa webpage.

Fall In-Person Workshops!

This fall, join us for a series of in-person workshops to discuss Ottawa’s New Zoning By-Law. These workshops are designed to engage the community, gather valuable feedback, and ensure that our new Zoning By-law reflects the Official Plan and the needs and aspirations of all residents. Your participation is crucial in shaping the future of our city!

Here’s what you can expect:

• Display Board Exhibition – dive into the basics of zoning and key concepts of the proposed By-law. This is your chance to ask questions and get informed.
• Roundtable Discussions – engage in intensive discussions on various topics with planners and fellow residents.

Five opportunities to participate:

All in-person workshops will start at 6:30 pm.

1. October 1 – Ray Friel Recreation Complex
2. October 8 – John G Mlacak Community Centre
3. October 15 – Fred Barrett Arena
4. October 22 – City Hall
5. November 5 – Confederation Education Centre

The Planning and Housing Committee received an Information Previously Distributed (IPD) report on September 11, 2024, providing an update on the New Zoning By-law Review Project. This IPD report is part of the Project’s ongoing efforts to keep the public and Council members informed about the project’s progress and the various options being considered as staff prepare the next draft of the Zoning By-law, which is set to be released in Q1 2025.

Key Points:

• Public Feedback and Key Issues: The report includes public feedback received up to July 30, 2024, and identifies some of the key issues that have emerged during the consultation process. These issues will be addressed in the second draft of the Zoning By-law, scheduled for release in March 2025.
• Commitment to Flexibility: The new Zoning By-law Review project is in the first Draft. Staff are actively seeking comments and feedback from the public on the draft zoning provisions and zoning map. The goal is to remain flexible and responsive to public input.
• Opportunities for Participation: The draft provisions for Draft 1 were released at the end of May 2024. Two more drafts will be released next year, in March and December, providing ample opportunities for public participation and feedback.
• As-We-Heard-It Reports: The IPD report included As-We-Heard-It reports for the June 20, 2024 city-wide virtual information session and for comments received up-to July 3. Additional reports, including the ward specific virtual, will be included in the Q4 status update IPD.

Residents are encouraged to share their comments on the new Zoning By-law. Comments can be sent to newzoning@ottawa.ca or residents can sign up for project updates at https://engage.ottawa.ca/zoning.

Join us for ward-specific virtual information sessions to discuss Ottawa’s proposed new Zoning By-law. The information sessions will cover key topics relevant to your ward. These virtual events are an opportunity to learn about the basics of zoning, key concepts of the proposed By-law, and to ask questions and share your thoughts!

Ward-specific virtual information sessions for all wards, grouped by areas of Ottawa, will be held throughout the summer. Registration for the virtual information sessions two weeks before the information session is held.

Which ward do you live in (or which ward are you interested in)? If you are unsure, you can click here to find out.

• Ward 14, Ward 22 Wednesday, July 31 from 6:30 to 8 pm.
• Ward 7, Ward 8, Ward 9 - Wednesday, August 21. To attend the Ward 07, 08 and 09 session, please register here
• Ward 1 - Suburban (Fallingbrook, Queenswood Heights, Cardinal Creek, Cardinal Creek Village, The Villages), Ward 2, Ward 11, Ward 19 Suburban (Greater Avalon, Avalon Encore, Summerside, Notting Hill, Chapel Hill South, Bradley Estates): Tuesday, August 27 please register here
• Ward 12, Ward 13, Ward 15 - Thursday, August 29 please register here
• Ward 10, Ward 16, Ward 17, Ward 18: Wednesday, September 4 please register here
• Ward 1 - Rural (Cumberland Village), Ward 5, Ward 19 - Rural (Navan, Notre Dame Des Champs, Sarsfield, Bearbrook, French Hill), Ward 20, Ward 21: Thursday, September 5 please register here
• Ward 3, Ward 24: Tuesday, September 10 please register here
• Ward 4, Ward 6, Ward 23: Wednesday September 11 please register here

Make sure to subscribe to Engage Ottawa to stay updated on events and registration details.

The City of Ottawa is developing a new comprehensive Zoning By-law for approval by Council in 2025. The Zoning By-law is a set of regulations that sets rules on what can be built as of right, without having to seek specific permission.

In this feature story you will find background on how we got here, a summary of next steps in the process, and a summary of issues addressed in the Zoning By-law. These include: Housing, Climate resiliency, Parking and an explanation of the difference between Dwellings and Storeys.

Background

The new Zoning By-law will implement the policies and directions in the City’s Official Plan(link is external), which outlines a comprehensive land-use policy framework to guide growth and development within the city to the year 2046. The new Zoning By-law will be critical to City efforts to address housing affordability in Ottawa by facilitating growth that aligns with intensification goals outlined in the Official Plan.

In addition to the Zoning By-law(link is external), the City is reviewing its Infrastructure Master Plan(link is external), updating its Transportation Master Plan(link is external) and implementing its Climate Change Master Plan, all in support of the Official Plan(link is external).

Housing is the priority

Opening new opportunities for housing is at the very core of our Official Plan. The Zoning By-law will help us achieve the goals of the Official Plan, namely to provide opportunities for more homes that are:

• affordable for more people
• located within low and mid-rise settings in existing neighborhoods
• located within high-rise settings near main streets and transit hubs
• well-designed and well-built
• located in neighbourhoods with amenities that enhance quality of life

Provisions in the draft Zoning By-law aim to encourage development of housing closer to public transit. It also addresses the needs of households with the lowest 40 per cent of income levels, who need a wider range of housing options that includes shelters and supportive housing.

What are the next steps?

On Friday, May 31, the City will release the first draft of the new Zoning By-law.

Extensive public engagement will follow, with residents encouraged to review and comment on the new by-law both online on engage.ottawa.ca(link is external) and in person at open-house events in the fall.

Staff will compile the results of the consultation and use it to update a second draft of the Zoning By-law, which will be presented for consideration in the spring of 2025 at a joint meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. Public consultations will then continue until the fall of 2025 when a final draft is scheduled to be considered at Joint Committee once more and then approved by Council.

Guiding principles of the draft Zoning By-law

Four dwellings does not mean four storeys

To increase housing construction options and opportunities in existing neighbourhoods, the by-law creates a framework of Neighbourhood Zones. All Neighbourhood Zones would permit four dwellings or more on each serviced residential lot. A dwelling refers to an address, a house, an apartment or other place of residence. It does not refer to the number of storeys in a structure.

• What this means:
  If a homeowner wants to renovate a structure to allow up to four households to live there, they would not need a zoning amendment to seek special permission to do so. However, they still must adhere to other provisions regulating setbacks, site plans and the building code.

What is a Neighbourhood Zone?

Neighbourhood Zones allow neighbourhoods to evolve in a way that is appropriate based on their location, age, maturity and the needs of the people living in and around them. Where supported by the Official Plan, the draft adds new permissions for non-residential uses to encourage more retail and services near where people live, helping to meet the day-to-day needs of residents.

• What this means:
  The Zoning By-law will provide more opportunities in neighbourhoods for daycares, hair salons, coffee shops, food stores, small local-oriented retail and offices to provide local benefits that residents want and need.

What is a 15-minute neighbourhood?

One of the Official Plan’s targets is to permit denser, more livable communities. The draft Zoning By-law supports the development of 15-minute neighbourhoods.

• What this means:
  In a 15-minute neighbourhood, most of what you need to live can be found within a 15-minute walk of your home, including access to food, shopping, medical care, schools, employment and recreation; or, access to public transit to take you where you need to go.

What does the draft Zoning By-law say about parking?

The draft does not propose minimum parking rates. That does not mean no parking will be provided for new developments, but it would be by choice and driven by market preference and demand.

• What this means:
  Maximum parking rates in areas well served by transit will continue to apply, as will requirements for accessible and visitor parking spaces. 

How does the draft by-law address Climate Resiliency?

This draft Zoning By-law includes provisions that encourage the densest development near transit, increase the prevalence of EV-charging stations, require EV-ready parking spaces where parking is provided, and encourage tree retention and forest regeneration.

• What this means:
  Climate resiliency is not just something residents do in their homes, it begins at the planning stage, when neighbourhoods are being designed and developed.

Other areas of focus include:

• Equity
  The draft Zoning By-law aims to implement the Official Plan equally and consistently so that no one neighbourhood is treated differently or affected disproportionately.
• Space for trees
  The draft expands requirements for soft landscaping to help establish preconditions for more trees, ensuring room is preserved in front and rear yards as properties are redeveloped.
• Water and stormwater services
  The draft strengthens provisions requiring adequate water and sewer capacity before a building permit could be issued, in particular for developments that do not require a site plan control application.

City of Ottawa Engages Residents on New Zoning Bylaw

The City of Ottawa is embarking on an important journey to reshape its Zoning Bylaw, with multiple opportunities for resident engagement over the next 18 months. The full text of the proposed Zoning By-law is now available on the project’s Engage Ottawa page. This initial report marks the beginning of a comprehensive review process, which will include two additional iterations based on community feedback until the final version is approved by Council in Q4 2025. Consultation for this project starts now and will continue until the By-law's approval in late 2025.

City-wide Virtual Community Information Session

The engagement process kicks off with a city-wide virtual community information session scheduled for June 20 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. This session aims to provide an overview of the key concepts of the proposed by-law and outline what to expect in future engagements. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and express concerns during a dedicated Q&A period. Questions specific to certain wards will be noted for further discussion in subsequent sessions to ensure comprehensive community feedback.

To attend the session, please register here.

Virtual Community Information and Comment Sessions

Additional virtual meetings will be held grouped by city areas.

These sessions will provide residents with further opportunities to voice their opinions and ensure that all perspectives are considered in the drafting process.

Pop-Up Events

A series of pop-up events will also be organized throughout the city to engage residents in a more informal setting. These events will create an open dialogue, allowing residents to ask questions, share their thoughts, and gain a deeper understanding of the bylaw's implications.

In-Person Community Information and Comment Sessions

As part of the city's commitment to inclusivity, in-person community information and comment sessions will be held in September and October. Each session will provide detailed displays and opportunities for residents to engage directly with city staff and fellow residents.

The Zoning By-law team is dedicated to facilitating transparent and inclusive public engagement throughout this process. Stay tuned for updates on engagement details as they are confirmed, and take this opportunity to help shape the future of Ottawa's zoning policies.

• May 31, 2024 - New Zoning By-law interactive Map:

The City has created a web-based interactive map, to enable the public to review existing zoning and be able to compare with the new zoning provisions of the City’s new Zoning By-law project.

May 31, 2024 - New Zoning By-law StoryMap

TBD - Digital Twin

Through the new Zoning By-law project, the City is developing a Digital Twin – a virtual, three-dimensional representation of Ottawa – that can be used to model and simulate the city. The model will provide users with a fully immersive and interactive 3D representation of the entire urban environment – from buildings and roads to hydrants and trees – enabling them to explore the entire, complex environment.

The Digital Twin is being developed in stages and aims to deploy a public interface for the Digital Twin planned in late 2025.

The first staff report for the new Zoning By-law project is now live on the City’s agenda minutes page. The report will be tabled at the April 29 Joint Committee of the Planning and Housing Committee, and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The full text of the proposed By-law will be released in its entirety on May 31 here on the project’s Engage Ottawa page.

The staff report serves as a preview of the first draft of the new Zoning By-law provisions. It summarizes the proposed By-law in plain language and how the By-law is implementing the new Official Plan.

This report is just the start of the Zoning By-law review. Over the course of the project there will be two other iterations of the draft by-law that will be developed based on the feedback and comments we receive until the final version of the By-law is approved by Council in Q4 2025.

Consultation for the entire project starts now and will continue until the proposed By-law is approved by Council in Q4 2025. Active engagement for this first draft starts in June and continues through October.