What are the permit rules for a bin in a Centretown laneway?

A bin in a public laneway in Centretown sits on City of Ottawa land, so the City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit is required before the bin goes in. The City's TCE page lists "Roll off or disposal bin in roadway or public laneway" as an example of what the permit covers, and Road Activity By-law 2003-445 s.4.1 says no person shall place such an encroachment without one.

The City accepts applications from residents, contractors or construction companies, so agree in writing with the bin company about who applies before you book. The permit is non-transferable and runs in the name of the permit holder. Processing takes a minimum of 10 business days, so a bin cannot go into the laneway the same day or even the same week you decide to book. If a parking space has to be removed, the City requires a minimum of four business days notice.

A few permit-holder duties are worth knowing before you sign anything. The permit must be posted on the exterior of the encroachment area. Traffic-control devices are the permit holder's responsibility, in general conformance with the Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7. In winter, the permit holder is responsible for removing snow from the encroachment area and keeping pedestrian throughways clear. If the laneway is near a bus stop or route, a closed sidewalk, a bike lane, a fire hydrant, or within 30 metres of a signalized intersection, a Traffic Management Plan is also required. Permits may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the City.

On fees: a Simple TCE permit (10 working days or less) costs $101.00; a Complex permit (more than 10 working days, or any renewal) costs $998.00. On top of that, the City charges a daily rental for the space: $0.87 per square metre per day on the boulevard, $2.02 per square metre per day on the sidewalk or roadway, with a minimum daily charge of $41.00. By our calculation, most single bins fall under the minimum, so the daily figure for most single bins is the $41.00 minimum. All fees are non-refundable.

If you are not sure whether a laneway is public, check geoOttawa for the approximate right-of-way line, or ask the City's ROW Permit Office.

Settle who applies before you book the drop-off date, then count 10 business days forward from the application.