Do I need a City of Ottawa permit for temporary waste bins during post-construction cleanup?

It depends on where the bin goes. A bin or dumpster on the street, boulevard, sidewalk or a public laneway needs a City of Ottawa Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit, issued under the Road Activity By-law. The City lists roll-off containers among the things that need one.

What the City publishes for 2026:

• Fee: $101 for an encroachment of 10 working days or less, or $998 for a longer one or any renewal. Fees are non-refundable.
• Daily rental of the space: $2.02 per square metre per day on a road or sidewalk ($0.87 on a boulevard), with a $41 daily minimum.
• Timing: the City asks for at least 10 business days to process an application.
• Who can apply: the City accepts applications from construction companies, contractors or residents, so agree in writing who is getting it.
• While the bin is out: the permit holder posts the permit on site, supplies any traffic-control devices and clears snow from the area.

A bin kept entirely on your own property is not covered by the TCE permit, but the end of a driveway near the street can be City land, so check before the bin arrives.

During post-construction cleanup, smaller amounts of debris are sometimes bagged instead, but construction material is not collected with regular garbage in Ottawa, so plan for a bin or a landfill trip.

Before the cleanup date, get written confirmation of where the bin will be placed and who holds any City permit.

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