City of Ottawa eyes yearly permit for vacant building owners
Owners of vacant buildings in the city of Ottawa will soon need to obtain a $1,700 annual permit, as the city looks to hold owners accountable for managing empty buildings and mitigate any negative impacts on the community.
The community and protective services committee approved the Vacant Property Bylaw, which would require owners of properties unoccupied for 120 consecutive days to obtain a permit and to follow regulations for identifying, managing and visiting their sites.
Community associations applauded the city's move to deal with vacant properties.
"We have dealt with vacant properties since the rumbling of LRT and they have quickly become nightmares for us," said Lorrie Marlow of the Mechanicsville Community Association.
Marlow says one vacant building in the neighbourhood became an issue for pests and trees falling down.
Linda Hoad of Heritage Ottawa said the bylaw would provide protection to vacant heritage properties.
"Accountability is certainly one of the best things about this bylaw," Hoad said, noting residents don't know who to contact to deal with issues with vacant buildings.
An annual permit would cost $1,700.
The city says the permit would "better mitigate common problems" with vacant properties including improper maintenance, and prevent demolition by neglect by identifying problems with vacant buildings before they are damaged beyond repair.
According to the city, the new permit regulations will identify vacant properties and require the owner to attend the property every two weeks to identify issues on site and resolve violations, "before they escalate".
"The recommended Vacant Property By-law aims to hold property owners accountable for managing their vacant properties and to mitigate negative community impacts those vacant properties can cause, such as property standards and maintenance violations, complaints of garbage and vandalism graffiti on site, and unauthorized access, among others," staff said in a report for the committee.
"The permit system will also provide staff with the tools to better identify problems with vacant buildings early on. This will help prevent 'demolition by neglect' by addressing issues of deterioration or loss of built heritage resources before these properties are damaged beyond repair."
There were 216 vacant properties and land in Ottawa, as of October 2021. Staff say 110 of the vacant properties currently have development applications submitted to the city.
Vacant buildings are 14 times more likely to generate calls for bylaw enforcement in Ottawa compared to occupied properties, according to staff.
The permit fees will cover the cost of hiring two full-time staff members to enforce the vacant property bylaw. If approved by council, vacant property owners will need a permit starting in November.
Exemptions in the bylaw will accommodate snowbirds, travelling workers and vacation properties.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Second Cup closes Montreal franchise over hateful incident
Second Cup Café has closed one of its franchise locations in Montreal following allegations of hateful remarks and gestures made by the franchisee in a video that was widely circulated online during a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday.
‘It’s pretty emotional:’ N.B. family escape fire, plan to rebuild home
A family in Riverview, N.B., is making plans for Christmas and the future after escaping a fire in their home on November, 14.
Cargo ship runs aground in St. Lawrence River near Morrisburg, Ont.
A large cargo ship remains stuck in the St. Lawrence River after running aground on Saturday afternoon.
Scurvy resurgence highlights issues of food insecurity in Canada's rural and remote areas
A disease often thought to only affect 18th century sailors is reemerging in Canada.
B.C. man awarded $800K in damages after being injured by defective bear banger
A B.C. man has been awarded nearly $800,000 in damages as compensation for injuries he sustained from a defective bear banger, according to a recent court decision.
A man called 911 for help during a home invasion. Las Vegas police fatally shot him
A Las Vegas man called for police help during a home invasion before an officer fatally shot him, according to authorities and 911 calls.
Cat caught in hunting snare rescued by BC SPCA
Donations are ramping up for a BC SPCA cat with a mangled paw after being caught in a hunting snare, one of a rising number of pets to fall prey to the hunting device.
These royal residences are opening their doors this Christmas
Not so long ago, if you wanted to spend Christmas with the royal family, the only way to get close was to press your nose up to the TV screen during the monarch’s Christmas speech.
'Still working full time on it:' One year later police continue to search for gunman in Caledon double murder linked to ex-Olympian
One year after a couple was shot and killed in their Caledon home in what investigators have described as a case of mistaken identity, Ontario Provincial Police say they are still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger.