Ottawa Owner - Parking on Driveway length measurement

[Ericca]

Hello Ottawa AS owners,

Can anyone confirm the bylaw of parking RV trailer on your own driveway, how is the length is measured?

I saw people mentioned on this Forum that bylaws only measure the body length? but I could not find any info on city website.

Thanks,
Hongyan

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by Ericca

Hello Ottawa AS owners,



Can anyone confirm the bylaw of parking RV trailer on your own driveway, how is the length is measured?



I saw people mentioned on this Forum that bylaws only measure the body length? but I could not find any info on city website.



Thanks,

Hongyan

The City of Ottawa Zoning By-law 2008-250 appears to define an RV as a heavy vehicle if it is more than 6 metres (19’8” or so) long. In that case it must be parked in a side or rear yard.

I didn’t see anything from a quick read of the text of the by-law or in the definitions that specifies how length is measured. I can only assume that it would be from the coupler to the back bumper. However, a by-law enforcement officer might decide to measure just the body of a trailer. Or he might eyeball it and conclude it complies with the by-law. They have discretion.

I don’t know about Ottawa practices, but most local enforcement in Canadian municipalities is by complaint, not as a result of active patrols. Most pursue compliance, and only write tickets if you persist in creating an issue for them.

This is not any kind of legal advice, just observations from experience.

[Ericca]

Originally Posted by AlbertF

I didn’t see anything from a quick read of the text of the by-law or in the definitions that specifies how length is measured. I can only assume that it would be from the coupler to the back bumper. However, a by-law enforcement officer might decide to measure just the body of a trailer. Or he might eyeball it and conclude it complies with the by-law. They have discretion.

I don’t know about Ottawa practices, but most local enforcement in Canadian municipalities is by complaint, not as a result of active patrols. Most pursue compliance, and only write tickets if you persist in creating an issue for them.

This is not any kind of legal advice, just observations from experience.

Thanks, I searched a few threads mentioned the same thing that it is up to the enforcement office to decide how is measured, this kinds of annoying in my decision on what trailer to buy. It is just too much hassle to park your trailer in a storage.

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by AlbertF

The City of Ottawa Zoning By-law 2008-250 appears to define an RV as a heavy vehicle if it is more than 6 metres (19’8” or so) long. In that case it must be parked in a side or rear yard.

I didn’t see anything from a quick read of the text of the by-law or in the definitions that specifies how length is measured. I can only assume that it would be from the coupler to the back bumper. However, a by-law enforcement officer might decide to measure just the body of a trailer. Or he might eyeball it and conclude it complies with the by-law. They have discretion.

I don’t know about Ottawa practices, but most local enforcement in Canadian municipalities is by complaint, not as a result of active patrols. Most pursue compliance, and only write tickets if you persist in creating an issue for them.

This is not any kind of legal advice, just observations from experience.

@Hongyan - Check the definition of side yard. It may start at the front of the house.


Al

[AlbertF]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

@Hongyan - Check the definition of side yard. It may start at the front of the house.


Al

From the Ottawa zoning by-law definitions section:

interior side yard setback which means the shortest distance between the side lot line not abutting a street and any part of a building between the front and rear yards


So yes, the side yard would start at the front of the house.

[waninae39]

in Ottawa, they only check if there is a complaint

we had a complaint from a bad neighbor, but our old sport fit within the length allowed (20')

when the city did the measurement, they did NOT include the front A frame or the rear bumper, just the body itself

[Ericca]

Originally Posted by AlbertF

From the Ottawa zoning by-law definitions section:

interior side yard setback which means the shortest distance between the side lot line not abutting a street and any part of a building between the front and rear yards


So yes, the side yard would start at the front of the house.

thank you both, in Ottawa, majority house does not have a side yard, the house space between your neighbor is less than 3 feet on one side and another side is probably only 8 feet.

[Ericca]

Originally Posted by waninae39

in Ottawa, they only check if there is a complaint

we had a complaint from a bad neighbor, but our old sport fit within the length allowed (20')

when the city did the measurement, they did NOT include the front A frame or the rear bumper, just the body itself

Thanks @waninae39, I saw your post fight with the City a few years back. I am really happy that you confirmed they only measure the body length, but I am just afraid it depends on the city enforcement officer ( you never know if you can get a nice officer to do the measurement).

20 feet body length can give me more selections, I probably can get those 22 feet or even 23 feet models, such as Bambi or Caravel.

[Ericca]

I saw you upgrade to a 25 feet now, just wondering if you found a storage to park it? I am trying to find out the running cost in the worst case.

Thanks.

[Ericca]

Originally Posted by waninae39

in Ottawa, they only check if there is a complaint

we had a complaint from a bad neighbor, but our old sport fit within the length allowed (20')

when the city did the measurement, they did NOT include the front A frame or the rear bumper, just the body itself

I saw you upgrade to a 25 feet now, just wondering if you found a storage to park it and how much does it cost? I am trying to find out the running cost in the worst case.

Thanks.