Can my Westboro deck project into the side yard?

Whether your Westboro deck can project into the side yard depends on which side (interior or exterior), how high the walking surface sits above grade, and whether the deck is covered. For applications deemed complete on or after March 11, 2026, both Zoning By-law 2008-250 and By-law 2026-50 apply, and the more restrictive provision from each wins.

Here is how the rules break down.

For an uncovered, unenclosed deck with a walking surface no higher than 0.6 metres above adjacent grade, both by-laws agree: in the interior side yard there is no minimum setback and no maximum projection limit. That is the most permissive scenario. In the exterior side yard (the side facing a street on a corner lot), the deck may project the greater of 2 metres or 50 per cent of the required yard, but no closer than 1 metre to the property line.

Under both by-laws a deck may have a maximum of two enclosed sides. For any other deck, meaning one that is covered or has a walking surface higher than 0.6 metres above grade, Zoning By-law 2026-50 section 204 sets a minimum setback of 1 metre from any lot line and a maximum projection of 2 metres into the yard. For residential buildings, a deck projecting into the rear yard above the first floor has further limits that depend on lot depth. A 1.5 metre high opaque screen facing an interior side lot line may also be required within 1.5 metres of that line on those N1 to N6 lots.

A few things to confirm before you finalise your design:

• Which zoning subzone applies to your specific lot in Westboro, since N1 to N6 rules vary
• Whether your lot depth triggers the rear-yard projection limits in 2026-50 section 204
• Whether any part of 2026-50 affecting your lot is still under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal, since some rear yard setback provisions in certain Neighbourhood subzones remain unsettled
• Whether a building permit is required: if the walking surface will be more than 600 mm (24 in.) above adjacent grade and the deck is attached to the house, a permit is required under the City of Ottawa's rules

The City can confirm the exact zoning rules for your address. If the design does not fit within the permitted projections, a minor variance through the Committee of Adjustment is the formal route, though we cannot predict whether one would be granted.

Before work starts, make sure you have the dimensioned drawings showing the deck's position relative to all property lines, the building permit in hand if one is required, and a written contract that sets out the full scope and price. Those three documents together are what protect you if questions come up mid-project.