Council approved a new Zoning By-law for Ottawa today – the most housing-friendly Zoning By-law in the City’s history. The new Zoning By-law enacts the policies of the Official Plan that Council approved in 2021. Once in force, the new Zoning By-law will help improve housing affordability, guide future development responsibly, and thoughtfully manage the significant population growth projected to occur in the years to come.
The final version of the new Zoning By-law is an example of evidence-based, community-informed policy development. It has come to Council only after five years of consultations with the community around the new Official Plan and earlier zoning drafts.
The new Zoning By-law significantly streamlines zoning regulations to minimize barriers to development, in line with provincial land-use policies that guide how municipalities manage growth, housing and development. It is a key part of the City’s comprehensive response to Ottawa’s housing challenges. Together with other policy tools like the Housing Acceleration Plan, the new Zoning By-law will play a vital role in making Ottawa the most housing-friendly city in Canada.
The new by-law expands opportunities for responsible development through:
- Simpler, easy-to-use zoning rules based on building size and location instead of building type (e.g. duplex, semi-detached dwelling)
- Straightforward permissions for midrise and highrise development near transit
- Flexible parking rules that let market demand determine parking needs
- Streamlined rules to gently increase density in existing neighbourhoods
- Fewer restrictions on prefabricated and modular housing
- Increased maximum building heights in strategic growth areas to align with the Official Plan
- New permissions to encourage residential development aimed at seniors
- Policies to encourage larger, family-sized units in four-to-six-unit buildings
