Ottawa cracks down on driveway “Wild West” with hardscaping bylaw

City councilors in Ottawa are welcoming a proposed bylaw aimed at regulating what they call the “Wild West” of landscaping, as unlicensed driveway work leaves homeowners with expensive bills.

Recent reports show homeowners facing costly remediation after bylaw officers cracked down on asphalt, interlock, concrete, paving stones, and other hard landscaping features that violate city rules.

Licensing Regime Proposed for Contractors

City staff have recommended a licensing system to regulate “hardscaping.” Contractors would pay a $441 annual fee and be required to hold insurance and sign contracts with homeowners.

The bylaw passed the emergency and protective services committee with just one vote against and will now go to full council next week for a final vote.

Committee chair Riley Brockington highlighted the scope of the problem:

“It gets very expensive, very fast. Not only has a property owner invested a lot of money to do the work, they are then told by bylaw that they have to remediate their properties, which could also include tens of thousands of dollars.”

He added:

“You've heard from many members of council, they see this as the Wild West in Ottawa. This is not prevalent in one ward; this is across the city, and we need to get a better handle on this."

Widespread Complaints and Hidden Costs

In 2024, Ottawa received 444 bylaw requests regarding driveway alterations and 424 complaints related to damage to city property, such as sidewalks or roads. City staff believe the actual number of violations is much higher.

Valérie Bietlot, the city’s public policy development manager, noted the wider impacts:

“Those hard surfaces cause runoff into the city sewer systems. Widened driveways reduce the amount of on-street parking as well because you can't park in front of a driveway.”

Enforcement has been complicated and time-consuming, especially when tracking down contractors. Homeowners often report being unaware of bylaws, relying on contractors’ guidance, while contractors say they act on homeowners’ instructions.

New Tools for Consumers and Enforcement

The proposed licensing system aims to equip city staff with better enforcement tools and ensure both homeowners and contractors understand the rules. A list of licensed contractors will be posted online for consumers.

“Residents are encouraged, before signing any contracts, to have a look at our web page and consider the contractors that are listed there that are licensed, knowing that they will follow the regulations that are in place,” said Roger Chapman, director of bylaw and regulatory services.

Some Exceptions, But Concerns Remain

The licensing regime will exempt new builds, farmers, and contractors already licensed for snow removal.

However, some contractors, including Jonathan Gilman of Ottawa Interlock Repair, argued the bylaw is too rigid. He suggested a voluntary system or exemptions for smaller contractors and young entrepreneurs.

“I just don't think it's going to do what they think the license is going to do… It will end up punishing the small, honest working guys who will have trouble maintaining their paperwork,” Gilman said.

He also noted additional costs, like needing decals for business vehicles and documents. City staff, however, rejected proposals for special provisions for minors, citing insurance challenges for under-18 operators.