What are the setback rules for a home addition in Ottawa?

In most urban neighbourhood zones under Ottawa's new Zoning By-law (2026-50), the rear yard setback is 25 percent of lot depth, never less than 6 m, with no more than 7.5 m required. The front setback can be reduced to the average of the abutting lots, but never below 1.5 m. On a corner lot, the rear setback can drop to as little as 1.2 m when an interior side yard is provided instead.

Village and rural zones set their own numbers. If a design doesn't meet a setback, the options are a different footprint, building up instead of out, or a minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment. We confirm the exact figures for your property before proposing a design.