There are several ways to review and comment on Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law

Whether you are well-versed with the issues or just learning what it's all about you are invited to review and comment on the second draft of Ottawa’s new Zoning By-law. You can use the unique tools online or attend virtual and in-person open-house events. There are three open houses taking place:

• In-person open house
  • Monday, June 2 Ben Franklin Place,101 Centrepointe Drive 6:30 to 8 pm

No registration necessary

• Virtual open houses
  • Thursday, May 29 6:00 to 8 pm
  • Tuesday, June 3 6:00 to 8 pm

Registration for the virtual Open Houses opened May 15. When you visit on engage.ottawa.ca you can:

• Interact with the proposed zoning in your neighborhood in a 3D Digital Twin Map and visualize potential future development.
• Check out geoOttawa for the citywide updated zoning map. Be sure to turn on the “New Zoning By-law DRAFT 2” option under “Zoning Resources”.
• Compare existing zoning rules of the current Zoning By-law 2008-250 with the proposed Draft 2 Zoning with Interactive Draft 2 - Zoning Map
• Watch the instruction video to learn how to use the Interactive Zoning Tool  and better understand the new Neighbourhood Zones.

What’s different in Draft 2? Most of the differences between Draft 1, which was introduced in April 2024, and Draft 2, introduced in April 2025, are technical in nature. However, after extensive public consultation, four updates are being made for consideration in Draft 2. Building heights and density in Neighbourhood (N) and Residential (R) Zones Various approaches to building heights and density are being considered in different areas. Namely:

• Draft 1 proposed limiting building heights in all N1/N2 zones to 8.5 metres, but R1/R2 zones to 11 metres. Draft 2 proposes three options to resolve this.  
• Draft 1 proposed to replace all R4 zones with N4 zones. However, the R4 zones have density limits on how many dwelling units are allowed in a given space, whereas the N4 zones do not. A more tailored approach is proposed in Draft 2 which would result in some R4 zones changing to N3 zones with a reduced maximum density.

Communal parking lots in Neighbourhood Zones Communal parking lots permit available parking spaces to be used by residents who live nearby, rather than just residents who live in an individual development. There is an interest is expanding these permissions:

• Draft 1 only permitted communal parking lots for planned unit developments (PUDs) – that is, developments with more than one residential building on one lot. Draft 2 will include four options for communal parking which could be used in combination.

Height Transition for high-rise buildings in Mainstreet Zones that are next to low-rise Neighbourhood Zones

• Draft 1 proposed a series of maximum height steps at 6, 9, 18 and 25 storeys, increasing based on distance from abutting low-rise property. In Draft 2, instead of steps, a buffer area of a given depth is proposed to ensure space for adequate transition.

More information on these options can be found in Document 3 – Overview of Key Issues and Options of the Draft 2 staff report. What are the next steps?  Staff will review comments from the public during May and June, and prepare Draft 3 of the new Zoning By-law to be released in September 2025. Public consultations on Draft 3 will continue through to October 2025. The final draft of the new Zoning By-law will be considered at a Joint meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee and the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee in December 2025. Council will consider the final draft of the new Zoning By-law in January 2026.   For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, Bluesky, X and Instagram.