Ottawa renoviction bylaw passes at council

Council voted 20-5 on Wednesday to adopt the Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw

Ottawa city council has approved a new bylaw aimed at preventing bad-faith renovictions, requiring landlords to obtain a city licence before carrying out certain renovation-related evictions. Council voted 20-5 on Wednesday to adopt the Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw. The new rules will take effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The vote was met with support from dozens of members of the tenant advocacy group ACORN who filled the public gallery at city hall. Under the bylaw, landlords who issue an N13 eviction notice for renovations or repairs must apply for a city licence within seven days. To obtain one, they must secure a building permit before issuing the notice, provide information about the tenancy and planned renovation, and confirm tenants received a city-produced guide outlining their rights.

The licence will be free, with enforcement handled through a complaint-based system. Landlords who violate the bylaw could face fines. Somerset Coun.

Ariel Troster, who has long advocated for an anti-renoviction bylaw, called the measure “a tremendous milestone for our city.” “It’s elegant in its simplicity,” Troster told council. “All it does is say, ‘Show us your work.'”

Troster said the bylaw would not create unnecessary hurdles for landlords acting in good faith. “If you are a responsible and honest landlord, which most are, then this bylaw will not stop you from upgrading your property,” she said. “Because if you are completing renovations on your property that are significant enough to require vacant possession, you’re going to need a permit anyway.”

As part of Wednesday’s decision, council also directed staff to review the bylaw during the next term of council and report back in the fourth quarter of 2027. City staff have said the bylaw does not change Ontario’s eviction rules, which remain under provincial jurisdiction. Instead, they say it is intended to help ensure landlords seeking renovation-related evictions are acting in good faith while improving awareness of tenant rights.

Renoviction bylaws are already in place in many Ontario municipalities including Hamilton, Toronto and London. Related City committee moves to curb bad-faith renovictions What's in Ottawa's draft renoviction bylaw? Councillors want to know Our website is your destination for up-to-the-minute news, so make sure to bookmark our homepage and sign up for our newsletters so we can keep you informed.