What notice do I need to give neighbors for a variance?

In Ottawa, you don't personally notify neighbors for a variance application - the City of Ottawa handles all neighbor notification as part of their official process, typically giving 10 days written notice to adjacent property owners.

When you submit a minor variance application to the City of Ottawa's Committee of Adjustment, the city takes responsibility for notifying affected neighbors. Here's exactly how the Ottawa process works:

The City of Ottawa will mail written notices to all property owners within 60 meters of your property at least 10 days before the Committee of Adjustment hearing. This notification includes details about your proposed variance, the hearing date, time, and location, plus information on how neighbors can participate or object.

The city also posts a yellow notice sign on your property that must remain visible for the required notification period leading up to the hearing. You'll receive this sign from the city and are responsible for posting it in a prominent location facing the street.

What the notification process covers: Adjacent neighbors receive details about what you're proposing to vary from the zoning bylaw, whether it's setback requirements, lot coverage, building height, or other zoning provisions. The notice explains how the variance might affect neighboring properties and invites input at the public hearing.

Your role in the process: While you don't directly notify neighbors, it's often wise to have informal conversations with immediate neighbors before applying. This can help identify concerns early and sometimes leads to letters of support that strengthen your application. However, this informal outreach doesn't replace the city's official notification requirement.

Timing considerations: Submit your variance application well in advance of when you need approval, as the notification period, hearing scheduling, and decision process typically takes 6-8 weeks total in Ottawa. The Committee of Adjustment meets monthly, and you need to get on their agenda.

For variance applications in Ottawa: Contact the Committee of Adjustment at 613-580-2424 or visit ottawa.ca/planning. Current application fees are around $1,200-$1,500 depending on the type of variance requested.

The city's notification system ensures due process while removing the burden of neighbor notification from homeowners - they handle the legal requirements so you can focus on preparing a strong case for your variance.