Ottawa passes renoviction bylaw requiring landlords to obtain city licence before evictions

Ottawa city council has adopted 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 Wednesday on the Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw, which takes effect January 1, 2027.

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.

The vote was met with support from dozens of members of the tenant advocacy group ACORN who filled the public gallery at city hall. Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster, who has long advocated for the measure, called it "a tremendous milestone for our city." "It's elegant in its simplicity," Troster told council. "All it does is say, 'Show us your work.' If you are a responsible and honest landlord, which most are, then this bylaw will not stop you from upgrading your property."

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. Similar bylaws are already in place in Hamilton, Toronto, and London. Council also directed staff to review the bylaw during the next term of council and report back in the fourth quarter of 2027.