Understanding By-law & Regulatory Services
The City of Ottawa’s By-law & Regulatory Services Branch addresses issues that are not criminal but that represent the day-to-day rules that we live by as members of our community. If you have a problem with a neighbour that relates to a city by-law and that you cannot solve by talking to that neighbour, you can report the violation to By-law & Regulatory Services and someone will investigate your complaint.
You can report by-law violations on a variety of topics by calling 3-1-1. Here are some examples of by-laws in place in the City of Ottawa and some of the issues that they address, as well as a few useful related links:
Animal Care and Control
- Dog bites/attacks, dogs at large, dog leashing, dogs in parks
- Cat Disturbance
- Noise from animals
- Prohibited animals
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/animal_care/index_en.html
Traffic & Parking
- No Stopping permitted during peak hours
- 3-hour on-street parking limit
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/parking/regulations/index_en.html
Noise
- Bells, horns, shouting
- Construction
- Power equipment
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/common/noise_en.html
Property Standards
- Building conditions
- Residential and non-residential yards
- Waste disposal and storage
Property Maintenance
- Refuse and debris
- Long grass and weeds
- Snow and ice
Use and Care of Roads
- Throwing snow on the road
- Piling material on the road
- Maintaining boulevards
Temporary signs
- Permits
- Banner, inflatable, mobile, portable
- Sign placement
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/common/temporary_signs_en.html
Park and Facilities
- Park hours
- Access to fields in winter
- Permits
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/common/parks_en.html
Business Licensing
- Food premises (restaurants, bakeshops, etc.)
- Snow Plough Contractors
- Taxis
- Tobacco Vendors
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/business/licences/business_licencing_en.html
Graffiti Management
- Placing graffiti
- Keeping property free of graffiti
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/environment/community/graffiti/graffiti_bylaw_en.html
Smoke-free
- Public places
- Workplaces
- Smoke-Free Ontario Act
More information at: http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/bylaw/common/smoking_en.html
For a full list of city by-laws, and explanations of by-law violations, as well as common by-law topics, please visit:
