Here's what will cost more in the 2025 City of Ottawa budget

Ottawa City Hall is seen in this undated file photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa residents will be paying more to board the O-Train and buses, have the garbage picked up, turn on the taps, park on city streets and use recreation facilities in 2025.

Council approved the 2025 City of Ottawa budget on Wednesday, which includes a 3.9 per cent property tax hike for most homeowners. The 3.9 per cent property tax increase will add $168 to the average property tax bill in 2025.

The budget also increases user fees for a variety of city services.

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CTV News Ottawa looks at things that will cost more in Ottawa next year.

OC Transpo fares

Council approved a five per cent increase in transit fares in the 2025 OC Transpo budget.

Here is a look at the rate increases.

As of Jan. 1, 2025:

• Adult monthly pass: $135 ($128.75 in 2024)
• Youth monthly pass (13 to 18 years-old): $104 ($99.25 in 2024)
• Adult single-ride fare (paid by card): $4 ($3.80 in 2024)
• Adult single-ride fare (paid by cash): $4.05 (3.85 in 2024)
• Senior single-ride fare (paid by e-purse): $3.20 ($2.90 in 2024)
• 11-12 year-old single-ride fare (paid by e-purse): $2 (free in 2024)

As of Feb. 1, 2025:

• Senior monthly pass: $58.25 ($49 in 2024)

The 2025 OC Transpo budget eliminates free fares for 11 and 12-year-olds.

The fares for the Community monthly pass, the Access monthly pass and EquiPass remain unchanged in 2025.

The U-Pass will increase 5 per cent on Sept. 1, 2025, contingent upon the completion of consultations with post-secondary institutions and student associations.

An OC Transpo user paying for a transit fare. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

Water, wastewater and stormwater fees

The cost to turn on your taps and flush the toilet will increase $43.07 this year.

The 2025 budget includes a two per cent increase for water rates, a three per cent hike in wastewater rates and a 12 per cent jump in stormwater rates.

“The overall increase on the average bill will be 4.4 per cent or $43.07 per year,” Joseph Muhuni, Deputy City Treasurer, told CTV News Ottawa in a statement.

Garbage collection

You will be paying more for household garbage and recycling collection next year.

The 2025 budget increases the solid waste user fees from $145 to $243 for a single-family household. The $243 fee will include the waste diversion tax, which was a separate line in 2024 ($56), as the city shifts to a single-fee system.

The solid waste user fees increase from $91 to $167 for multi-residential households.

Tipping fees for the landfill will increase 10.6 per cent.

A worker rides on the back of a waste collection vehicle in Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa)

Recreation fees

The 2025 budget increases rental and membership fees for arenas and recreation.

Here is a look at the increases:

• Arena rental - Adult: $341.67 ($331.88 in 2024)
• Arena rental – Commercial: $351.68 ($340.60 in 2024)
• Arena rental – Minor: $204.81 ($198.94 in 2024)
• Arena rental – non-prime time: $159.33 ($154.76 in 2024)
• Artificial turf – Adult: $142.94 ($138.84 in 2024)
• Artificial turf – Minor: $84.15 ($81.74 in 2024)
• Sports fields/ball diamonds: Increasing 3 per cent to $20.45 to $50.11

General admission:

• Museum admission: up 2.9 to 3 per cent to between $3.95 and $20.49
• Public skating: up 0 per cent to 7.6 per cent to $1.99 to $7.96
• Public swim: up 2.8 per cent to 3 per cent to $2.55 to $6.20

Memberships:

• Aquafitness: $54.13-$904.43 ($52.58-$878.41 in 2024)
• Fitness: $24.85 to $1,011 ($24.14-$982.35 in 2024)
• Museum: $39.15 ($38.38 in 2024)
• Personal training: up 3 per cent to $23.23-$67.15
• Swim: Up 3 per cent to $24.16-$651.29

Hourly programming:

• Aquatics – Learn to Swim: up 2.9 per cent to $5.28-$32.91
• Day camps: up 2.7 per cent to 3 per cent to $1.84 to $17.82
• Fitness: up 2.9 per cent to $0.16 to $16.76
• Learn to Skate: up 3 per cent to $13.80 to $30.62

Business licensing

The 2025 Emergency Preparedness and Protective Services Committee budget outlines increases of up to seven per cent for business licensing. Here are some of the fee increases:

• Application Processing Fee: up 3.4 per cent to $60
• Food premises: up 2.3 per cent to $226
• Canada Day Lottery Fee: $105 (up from $102 in 2024)
• All Night Dance Events: up 2.4 per cent to $340
• Kennel-Boarding: up 2.5 per cent to $124
• Rickshaw operators: up 1.0 per cent to $55
• Snow plow vehicles: up 52 per cent to $58
• Driving school owner/operator: up 2.5 per cent to $498
• Driving school instructor: up 2.3 per cent to $179

Mobile refreshment vendors will see licenses increase 2.5 per cent.

The cost of a fireworks permit will increase 2.6 per cent to $79.

First Aid Courses

The cost for first aid training with the City of Ottawa will increase in 2025.

• Standard First Aid Certification (two-day course): $150.50 ($146.85 in 2024)
• Standard First Aid Recertification (one-day course): $99.30 ($96.90 in 2024)
• Emergency First Aid Recertification (one-day course): $99.30 ($96.60 in 2024)
• First Aid Instructor Certification (two-day course): $256.35 ($250.10)

On-street parking rates

The cost to park on city streets and at municipal on-street spaces will increase on Jan. 1, 2025.

The cost of on-street residential parking permits will increase approximately 2.5 to 2.9 per cent. Here is a look at the new rates:

• Residential parking permit: $770 a year ($750 in 2024)
• Residential parking permit – summer: $36 a month ($35 in 2024)
• Residential parking permit – winter: $167 ($163 in 2024)
• Residential visitor parking per week or less – winter - $41.75 ($40.75 in 2024)

The maximum on-street parking rate will increase from $4.50 to $5. Staff will have the delegated authority to increase parking rates during the year.

The maximum on-street rate for a motorcycle will increase $0.25 to $2.50.

There will be no change in parking rates at City of Ottawa parking lots in 2025.

A City of Ottawa parking meter is seen in this 2016 file photo. (Tyler Fleming / CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa Public Library

The 2025 budget increases the cost of room rentals at Ottawa Public Library branches.

Rental rates will increase 2.5 per cent in hourly rates for commercial and non-profit rentals.

Ottawa Police Service reports

The cost for police record checks will increase in 2025.

• Police Record Checks – Vulnerable Sector Employment: $72 (up from $71 in 2024)
• Police Record Checks – Adoption: $118 (up from $115 in 2024)
• Police Record Checks – Pardon Applications: $72 (up from $71 in 2024)
• Criminal Records Check: $72 (up from $71 in 2024)
• Crime Free Multi-Housing Record Checks: $43 (up from $41 in 2024)
• Occurrence Report: $64 (up from $62 in 2024)
• False Alarm Fee: $176 (up from $172 in 2024)
• Impound Recovery Fee: $200 (up from $195 in 2024)

Short-term rentals

The cost for a short-term rental permit will increase in 2025.

The cost of an application/renewal processing fee will increase $3 to $60. A host permit fee for two-years will increase 3.7 per cent to $56.

I Do

It will cost you more to say 'I Do' in Ottawa in 2025.

The cost of a marriage licence will increase two per cent to $186.55.

Civil marriages will cost more at Ottawa City Hall next year. The Option 1: Monday to Friday during business hours will now cost $163.18, up from $159.20 in 2024.

The Option 2: Friday evening and Saturday afternoons will cost $163.18, up from $159.20 in 2024.

Death

Death registration fees will increase $1.28 to $52.28.