Can an Ottawa bin go on my lawn instead of the driveway?

A bin on your lawn sits on private property, and we found no City of Ottawa page that requires a permit for a bin entirely on private land. That said, there are a few practical things worth sorting out before the drop-off date.

The edge of your lawn near the street may not be private property. The City's right-of-way can include a boulevard strip between the sidewalk and the property line, and the area around a driveway access can also be City land. If any part of the bin ends up on that strip, the City's TCE permit applies. You can check the approximate property line on geoOttawa, or ask the City's ROW Permit Office to confirm where your property ends.

Bin companies ask for a level spot clear of overhead wires and branches. A lawn is worth measuring against the bin's outside dimensions before you commit, because those dimensions vary by company. Ask for the exact length, width and height of the bin in writing, then walk the spot to confirm it fits and that the ground is level enough to hold it safely.

Two things to raise with the bin company directly:

• Whether it puts boards or planks under the bin, and who is responsible if the ground is damaged, since we found no City or provincial rule on that; it is a contract term.
• Whether the placement keeps the bin entirely off the boulevard and sidewalk, or whether a TCE permit will be needed anyway.

The form on this page sends your request to local bin rental companies listed in the Ottawa Construction Network directory, and they reply by email.

Before the drop-off date, confirm in writing the exact spot where the bin will land and whether any part of it will sit on City land.