Committee approves hardscaping licence to improve accountability and protect consumers

The Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee today approved a new business licensing regime for hardscaping contractors in Ottawa. This initiative aims to address frequent issues with non-compliant hardscaping work on private property, such as unauthorized driveway expansions, excessive paving, and dumping on public property as well as enhance consumer protection.

Under the new rules, contractors who install or modify hardscaped features on private property like driveways, interlock, walkways, and patios must obtain a business licence and comply with City by-laws, carry insurance, provide written contracts and share a plain-language guide that outlines City regulations. These measures will ensure accountability for contractors and help prevent situations where residents are left paying to fix landscaping work that does not follow City rules.

Since 2022, the City has received an average of 385 complaints a year about non-compliant driveway alterations and non-permitted connections to the City’s roadways, resulting in about 100 instances of enforcement a year – including tickets, notices and orders to remediate. The licensing system is expected to reduce costly enforcement and remediation efforts. By improving accountability and public awareness, residents will be able to make more informed decisions before work begins. The new rules will take effect March 1, 2026.

The Committee received the 2024 annual report on Ottawa’s 9-1-1 call answer function. The report detailed that 91 per cent of calls were answered within six seconds. Call volumes decreased for the first time in four years, down 6.6 per cent from 2023, which saw higher call volumes due to a temporary software glitch affecting mobile devices, triggering a surge in accidental 9-1-1 calls during that year.

Residents continue to benefit from the inter-city call transfer service, which allows them to request emergency help for loved ones in other jurisdictions across North America. This service is used 75 to 80 times per month. The City is also making progress on upgrading to the Next Generation 9-1-1 system, which will modernize emergency communications and improve service reliability in the years ahead.

City Council will consider the recommendations from today’s meeting on Wednesday, October 22.

• Agenda