City of Ottawa - Accessibility Spotlight

Updates to the City’s Traffic and Parking By-law bring off-street accessible parking requirements in line with the AODA

In the fall of 2017, City Council approved updates to the City’s Traffic and Parking By-law that brought its off-street parking requirements in line with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the City of Ottawa Accessibility Design Standards. The updated Traffic and Parking By-law, which came into effect June 1, 2018, significantly increases the number of off-street accessible parking spaces required for newly constructed or renovated facilities. For example, under the previous by-law, an off-street parking lot with 150 spaces needed to have a minimum of two accessible parking spaces for persons with disabilities. Under the updated by-law, an off-street parking lot with 150 spaces needs a minimum of six accessible parking spaces.  The updated by-law also expands the variety of accessible spaces available. Where the previous by-law required the provision of 3.66-metre-wide accessible parking spaces, with no access aisle, the updated by-law requires both 3.4-metre Type-A van-accessible spaces and 2.4-metre Type-B spaces. As well, it requires that each space have an adjacent 1.5-metre-wide access aisle to make entering and exiting easier for persons using mobility aids. Property owners with existing off-street parking lots are not required to change their lots to meet the updated accessible-parking requirements immediately. Newly constructed parking lots and those that undergo renovation or redevelopment will be required to meet the updated requirements. Another positive aspect for persons with disabilities is that the updated Traffic and Parking By-law makes no changes to the on-street parking provisions for those with a valid Accessible Parking Permit. If you have your permit displayed, you can park free of charge at any City of Ottawa Pay & Display machine, in time limited parking zones, or in most signed "No Parking Anytime" zones for up to four consecutive hours. For more information on the City of Ottawa’s accessible parking provisions, please call 311 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or visit ottawa.ca.