City of Ottawa considering licencing fee for landscapers as part of bylaw review

An Ottawa City Councillor says changes could be coming to the bylaw that oversees landscapers. CTV’s Katie Griffin reports.

Changes could be coming to the bylaw that oversees landscapers in Ottawa.

The review that has been underway as part of the Landscaper Regulatory Review comes as several homeowners speak out after receiving a notice from the city saying they have to rip up some of their landscaping because it goes against a bylaw.

“Somebody complained and they targeted seven of us on this little crescent,” said Claude Mulligan who lives in Findlay Creek. “The river rock was up to the curb and the city ordered us to remove everything in the right of way which is about 13 feet in my case.”

He says the city eventually said they would only have to remove about 18 inches of rock away from the curb and replace it with mulch.

“But not any kind of mulch, it had to be organic mulch,” Mulligan said. “I’ve got rubber mulch which I’m in the process of removing and I’m going to replace it with the organic, wood chip-type of mulch.”

The landscaping was done more than 10 years ago and until this June it had never been an issue—until someone complained and a bylaw officer paid a visit, he said.

“We’re all confused why this is happening. These stones don’t bother anyone, they don’t damage the roadway, they don’t impede or interfere with anything.”

Other homeowners reached out to CTV News Ottawa after our initial story about a Kanata couple that was told they had to rip out part of their $40,000 landscaping project.

The city says no hardscaping, including river rock and interlock, is allowed on its right of way because it “interferes with drainage, snow removal and can impact other city services.”

“I know that in the city there are literally tens of thousands of people that have done this in the last 20 years I would say. I think the bylaw needs to be changed because people don’t want grass anymore,” Mulligan said.

Right now, the city is reviewing the bylaw that oversees landscapers.

“The city needs to be much more proactive and making sure people are aware of what they can and cannot do but also to hold landscapers accountable,” said Coun. Riley Brockington. “Landscapers need to be aware of the bylaw, this is not just a paycheque.”

Brockington added that some potential changes as part of the Landscaper Regulatory Review could include licencing.

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“That’s possible that there may be a licensing fee so the city can keep better track of who the landscapers are.”

Proposed changes could come before committee in the fall.

Mulligan hopes something changes.

“We did what the city asked us to do but we’re still scratching our heads as to why this is so bad.”

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