Clothing Donation Box By-law
Description
City staff conducted a review of the Clothing Donation Box By-law (No. 2013-98) which regulated the location and use of clothing donation boxes on private property.
The Clothing Donation Box By-law review considered:
- The accumulation of donated items, waste, and debris at clothing donation box locations
- The unauthorized placement of clothing donation boxes on private property
- Operator eligibility requirements
- Health and safety concerns
- Textile waste diversion opportunities
Results
On September 27, 2023, City Council approved a new Clothing Donation Box By-law (No. 2023-425) and permit requirement for clothing donation box owners in Ottawa. This new by-law took effect on January 31, 2024 and replaced the previous 2013 By-law.
The new by-law includes:
- A mandatory permit requirement for clothing donation box owners operating boxes outdoors on private property and at approved City facilities
- Updated regulations for the location, signage, maintenance, and safety of clothing donation boxes in Ottawa
- Annual reporting requirements for permit holders to help inform textile waste diversion initiatives and enhancements
The new by-law ensures that donation boxes are:
- Placed in appropriate locations and are safe for operation
- Properly labelled so that residents know who is responsible for the box and who the donations are benefitting
- Emptied and maintained on a regular basis
Reports
September 21, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee
September 27, 2023 – City Council
Contact
For questions about enforcement and permit administration, please visit the Clothing donation box permit page or contact:
The Business Licensing Centre
613-580-2424 ext. 12735
businesslicensing@ottawa.ca
For questions about the By-law review, please contact:
The Public Policy Development Branch
613-580-2400, ext. 29529
BylawReviews@ottawa.ca
On-Demand Accessible Taxicab Service Study
Description
In June 2023, Council approved the following changes to improve on-demand accessible taxicab service in Ottawa:
- A centralized dispatch dedicated to on-demand accessible taxicabs
- Several financial incentives to accessible taxicab plate holder licensees and drivers that recognize the higher costs of operating an accessible taxicab
- A three-year pilot to provide an opportunity for evaluation of the efficacy of the proposed initiatives
Results
To support these changes, several updates were made to the Vehicle-for-Hire By-law (No. 2016-272) including:
- Reducing the accessible plate holder license transfer fee to $312 per plate transfer
- Removing the requirement that standard and accessible taxicab vehicles must be less than five model years of age upon entry to the fleet
- Increasing the current ten-year vehicle age limit to 12 model years for taxicab vehicles that are fully wheelchair accessible, fully electric or hybrid
Future work includes reviewing the feasibility of implementing a City of Ottawa operated centralized dispatch system respecting on-demand accessible taxicab service and reporting back to Council before the end of the proposed three-year pilot project.
By-law and Regulatory Services expects to report annually on the changes made to improve on-demand accessible taxicab service in Ottawa.
Reports
June 15, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee
June 28, 2023 – City Council
Contact
Christine Hartig
613-580-2400, ext. 25629
christine.hartig@ottawa.ca
Right-of-Way Patio By-law
For more information about this review, click on the link below:
Status Update on Short-Term Rental Regime
Description
In April 2021, Council approved the reports entitled Short-Term Rental By-law and Zoning By-law Amendments to Permit the Short-Term Rental of Residential Dwelling Units City-Wide to implement a complete regulatory regime for short-term rentals in Ottawa.
This regulatory regime was implemented following a number of community complaints about nuisance associated with short-term rentals and arising concerns regarding the impacts of short-term rentals on housing availability and affordability.
Nuisance complaints included:
- Neighborhood disruptions such as ghost hotels
- “Party” houses resulting in an increase in by-law complaints for noise, parking, property standards, and exterior waste and debris
- Damage to neighbouring properties and several criminal incidents investigated by Ottawa Police
The regulatory regime under the Short-Term Rental By-law and the zoning amendments work together to create a regulated environment that provides an opportunity for short-term rental activity where it is most appropriate in the city and mitigates the negative impacts of unregulated short-term rentals.
Results
Following a one-year implementation, the Short-Term Rental regulatory regime has been operating as intended. There has been some decline in community nuisance issues. Additionally, an increasing number of property owners are reverting to long-term rentals due to permit ineligibility, thus improving the available housing supply.
For more information, visit the Short-Term Rentals page. For further studies and reports, consult the Literature Review and Multi-jurisdictional Environmental Scan and Rental Market Analysis.
Reports
September 21, 2023 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee
Contact
Kayla Woods
613-580-2424, ext. 12389
kayla.woods@ottawa.ca
Status Update on Towing and Storage Regulations and Provincial Regime By-law
Description
Tow Service Operators, Tow Trucks Drivers, and Vehicle Storage Facility Operators were previously regulated by the City of Ottawa through the Licensing By-law (No. 2002-189).
Since January 1 2024, the towing industry has been regulated by the Province of Ontario under the Towing and Storage Safety Enforcement Act, 2021.
Provincial regulations have replaced the City’s regulatory regime for this sector.
This by-law review:
- Assessed the proposed Provincial towing rules and their impact the City’s existing towing regulations
- Made recommendations for any required changes to existing the Licensing By-law for towing
- Inform the Licensing By-law review, scheduled for 2026
Get involved
The consultation period is complete.
Reports
Winter 2024 - Emergency Preparedness and Protective Service Committee
Note: All dates are subject to change.
Contact
Public Policy Development Branch
613-580-2400 ext. 29529
Use and Care of Roads By-law
For more information about this review, click on the link below:
Updates to the City of Ottawa Use and Care of Roads By-law 2003-498 | Engage Ottawa