How far ahead should I apply for a street bin permit in Ottawa?

Apply at least 10 business days before the date you want the bin on the street. That is the minimum processing time the City of Ottawa gives for a Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit, the permit the Road Activity By-law 2003-445 requires before a bin goes on the road, boulevard, sidewalk or a public laneway.

A few things on the City's own pages affect the plan:

• If a parking space has to be removed for the bin, the City needs a minimum of four business days notice. The City's FAQ says a Traffic Management Inspector contacts you after the application is submitted.
• A permit for 10 working days or less is a Simple permit. Longer than that, or any renewal, is a Complex permit, and City staff decide the type. A Complex permit needs commercial general liability insurance of at least $5,000,000 naming the City.
• A Traffic Management Plan is required if the bin affects a bus stop or route, closes a sidewalk, bike lane or road, sits near a fire hydrant, or is within 30 metres of a signalized intersection. Otherwise the application carries a sketch, picture or map of the spot.
• A permit runs for up to three months and may be limited to part of the day or to specified days.

The permit is emailed to the applicant once it is approved. It is in the name of the permit holder and is not transferable, and the City accepts applications from residents, contractors or construction companies. So the first thing to settle is who applies, because that application date is where the 10 business days start.

Before you pick a drop-off date with a bin company, agree in writing who applies for the permit, then count 10 business days forward from the day the application goes in.