WE DID IT! Ottawa finally has a renoviction bylaw!

We won, and it only happened because thousands of tenants refused to give up over the last three years!

On July 15, 2026, Ottawa City Council officially passed the renoviction bylaw with an overwhelming majority of 21 yes votes to just 5 no votes! Set to take effect on January 1, 2027, the passing of this bylaw marks what Somerset Councillor Ariel Troster called “a tremendous milestone” for housing justice in Ottawa.

Every action, every meeting, every petition, and every tenant who told their story helped get us here. None of this would have happened without ACORN’s persistent organizing. Thank you to everyone who stood with us, including, allies and the councillors who supported stronger protections! 

What we won: An essential first line of defense!

Starting January 1, 2027, landlords seeking to evict a tenant for renovations must:

• Apply for a municipal licence within seven days of issuing an N13 eviction notice.
• Prove they have already secured proper building permits before taking action.
• Provide tenants with a city-produced educational rights guide.

This isn’t the finish line. It’s our starting point!

But if we’re being honest, this isn’t the strong bylaw tenants fought for just yet. Cities like Hamilton and Toronto have shown that stronger protections work. Ottawa had the chance to match those protections, but the council stopped short. Several councillors dissented on and ultimately watered down tougher provisions for formal reports and guaranteed, landlord-funded temporary accommodations.

But we aren’t stopping here. This victory proves that when we organize, we win!

We are going to use the city’s scheduled 2027 review to keep organizing until Ottawa strengthens this bylaw with the key pieces tenants deserve:

• Qualified persons reports
• Temporary accommodations
• Rent gap payments
• Moving Costs

Tenants shouldn’t have to leave their homes just because a landlord wants bigger profits. We built the foundation; now let’s keep building! Bring on 2027.