City Council Approves Staff Report for New Zoning By-law

After three years of public consultations on the draft Zoning By-law, the City of Ottawa has reached a major milestone in modernizing its Zoning By-law.

On January 28, City Council approved the staff report for the new Zoning By-law, marking the culmination of an extensive engagement process. The draft Zoning By-law is a key tool in the City’s strategy to address housing supply and affordability. The new Zoning By-law eliminates barriers and offers flexibility to facilitate increased housing construction. Key elements include:

  • Expanded opportunities for a wider range of housing options

  • A simpler, form-based zoning structure that is easier to understand and apply

  • Clear permissions for mid- and high-rise development in areas close to transit

  • Flexible parking requirements that better reflect market conditions

  • Updated rules to support gentle density in neighbourhoods

  • Removal of outdated restrictions to support economic activity

Council’s approval of the staff report represents an important step in the process; however, the Zoning By-law is not yet in effect. Enactment of the By-law is anticipated at a Council meeting in mid-March 2026. Until this time, Zoning By-law 2008-250 is in effect.

Following enactment in mid-March, a 20-day appeal period begins within 10 days and is expected to conclude by the end of April 2026.

At an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearing, the OLT will declare the unappealed portions of the new Zoning By-law are in effect. The timing of this hearing is not finalized at this time, but it’s anticipated that an OLT decision will be issued by September 2026, at which time the unappealed portions of the By-law will be in effect. Until any unappealed sections of the By-law are brought into force, the most restrictive provisions of both the current Zoning By-law 2008-250 and the new Zoning By-law 2026-50 will apply.

For provisions in the new Zoning By-law that are appealed, the related provisions in the current Zoning By-law will continue to apply, with the most restrictive provisions in either the new Zoning By-law or Zoning By-law 2008-250 prevailing until the appeals are resolved. The transition provisions in Section 110 concerning interpretation of exceptions and schedules will not come into effect until they are declared in effect by the OLT.

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