Simple versus Complex TCE permit in Ottawa: which one fits my bin?

The line between them is 10 working days. On the City of Ottawa's TCE page, a Simple permit is for an encroachment of 10 working days or less, and its 2026 fee is $101. A Complex permit is for one of more than 10 working days, or for any renewal of a Simple permit, and its fee is $998. City staff determine which type applies.

For a bin, the count to compare with that line is the working days the bin will sit on City land. A renewal is always Complex, however short the extension, so if there is a chance the bin stays longer than 10 working days, say so when the application goes in rather than renewing later.

What changes with a Complex permit:

• It needs commercial general liability insurance of at least $5,000,000, in the name of the permit holder and naming the City as additional insured.
• Its permit fee is $998 instead of $101.

What applies to both types: the City requires a minimum of 10 business days to process the application; a permit runs for up to three months and may be limited to part of the day or to specified days; and a Traffic Management Plan is required near a bus stop or route, a closed sidewalk, bike lane or road, a fire hydrant, or within 30 metres of a signalized intersection. The daily road rental is charged on top of either fee, with a $41 daily minimum. All fees are non-refundable.

The City accepts applications from residents, contractors or construction companies, so agree in writing with the bin company who applies, and tell whoever applies how many working days the bin will be on the street.

Count the working days the bin will sit on City land before anyone applies; that number decides the permit type.