Can a bin sit in a paid parking spot on my Ottawa street?

It may be possible: that is how the City of Ottawa's FAQ on temporary construction-related encroachments answers it. A bin in a parking space is on the road, so it needs the City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit under the Road Activity By-law 2003-445.

What the City's pages add for a parking spot:

• After the application is submitted, a Traffic Management Inspector contacts you.
• If parking is to be temporarily removed, the City needs a minimum of four business days notice.
• In a paid parking area, the application includes the Pay and Display machine numbers, along with a sketch, picture or map of the location.
• The City requires a minimum of 10 business days processing time for the permit itself.

Who applies is yours to settle. The City accepts applications from residents, contractors or construction companies, the permit is in the name of the permit holder, and it is not transferable. Agree in writing with the bin company who that will be.

Once the permit is issued, the holder posts it prominently on the outside of the encroachment area and supplies the traffic-control devices; the City provides none. In winter the holder also removes snow from the area and keeps walkways clear.

The permit fees and the daily road rental are City charges, separate from the bin company's price; the City's TCE page lists them.

Your first step: note the Pay and Display machine numbers for the spot, so the application is complete when it goes in.