Residential planning · Ottawa

What you can build—checked against your lot

Zoned covers the residential project types Ottawa homeowners and contractors ask about most. Each check is tied to a specific address—not generic advice—so you see what actually fits before spending on drawings or permits.

Project types

Select a project type below to understand what Zoned analyses, the constraints that matter early, and who benefits most.

Coach house / Garden suite

Most popular

Place a detached unit in your buildable envelope and see if it fits before you design it.

  • Rear yard buildable envelope drawn on your lot
  • Setback distances from all property lines
  • Maximum footprint and height allowed
  • Parking and access requirements
  • Rear yard setback (typically 25% of lot depth)
  • Max height 6.5–11m depending on zone
  • Minimum lot width for detached units

Multiplex conversion / Build

High ROI

Explore unit potential from duplex through sixplex with the deal calculator against what your lot supports.

  • Maximum permitted units for your zone (Bill 23 rules)
  • Lot coverage and building envelope
  • Unit mix scenarios with rough revenue potential
  • Parking requirements per unit
  • Lot width minimums for 3+ units
  • Zone-specific unit caps (R1 vs R4 vs N-zones)
  • Site plan control triggers above 3 units

Home addition

Test how much you can expand your existing footprint before paying for architectural drawings.

  • Remaining buildable area after existing structure
  • Side and rear setback clearances
  • Lot coverage limit and how close you are
  • Height restrictions for second-storey additions
  • Side setbacks (1.2–1.5m typical, wider on corners)
  • Lot coverage caps (often 30–55%)
  • Angular plane rules for height near property lines

Basement apartment

Secondary suites in existing homes: check zone permissions, parking, and life-safety basics early.

  • Whether your zone permits secondary units
  • Parking space requirements
  • Maximum number of dwelling units on lot
  • Relevant zone-specific permissions
  • Ceiling height minimums (Ontario Building Code)
  • Separate entrance and egress requirements
  • One parking space per unit in most zones

Pool / Backyard structures

Pools, cabanas, and detached amenities need early clarity on setbacks, coverage impact, and code overlays.

  • Rear and side setback distances
  • Impact on lot coverage percentage
  • Buildable zone within your rear yard
  • Whether structures are counted as accessory buildings
  • Pool setbacks (typically 1.2m from property lines)
  • Fence and enclosure requirements
  • Grading and drainage considerations

Custom home / Rebuild

Full rebuilds need early clarity on envelope, massing, height, and context rules before design accelerates.

  • Full buildable envelope from all setbacks
  • Maximum building height and storeys
  • Lot coverage and floor area ratio limits
  • Corner lot extensions and special overlays
  • Heritage conservation district rules
  • Mature neighbourhood overlays
  • Front yard setback averaging with neighbours

Same workflow, every project type

Regardless of what you want to build, the process starts the same way.

1
Enter address Zoned locks to your parcel
2
See zoning Setbacks, height, coverage
3
View envelope Where you can build, visually
4
Try your project Test fit against real rules

Who uses this

Three starting points—same tool, different questions.

Homeowners

  • Sanity-check direction before expensive drawings
  • Compare realistic options for one address
  • Drop ideas that would force a late redesign
  • Walk into contractor calls with real context

Contractors

  • Open conversations with zoning-aware context
  • Tighten quotes with fewer hidden assumptions
  • Reduce change orders from zoning misses
  • Receive pre-qualified leads via partner program

Developers & Investors

  • Screen lots for multiplex or infill potential quickly
  • Compare unit counts across multiple addresses
  • Identify as-of-right vs variance-needed early
  • Run rough deal math before site acquisition

Pick a project type and check your address

See what's buildable on your specific lot in 1–3 minutes. No account needed.

Check your address