Moving in Ottawa: parking limits, encroachment permits and local movers

Parking a moving truck in Ottawa

The City of Ottawa answers the question directly on its encroachment permit page: if a residential or commercial moving vehicle, truck or van abides by existing parking regulations, it does not require a permit. Anything outside those regulations, other than a no-parking zone, requires an encroachment permit. So the first step is knowing the street rules. The City’s on-street restrictions include:

A full house move can easily run past three hours; if the truck cannot stay within the rules, you need a permit.

Encroachment permits: fees

Ottawa handles these requests through its temporary construction-related encroachment process. The City lists “portable moving containers/flexible moving and storage systems” among the uses, and says a container that uses any part of the right-of-way for loading, unloading or parking needs a permit. The published fees are:

Permit holders must carry commercial general liability insurance of at least $5 million, which in practice means the mover or container company usually applies. Ottawa’s temporary consideration parking permit is not the route for a move: the City says moving companies are not eligible for it.

Winter moves. Between 15 November and 1 April the City may call a Winter Weather Parking Ban, usually overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or during the day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Vehicles without a residential permit parked on the street during a ban may be ticketed and towed, so check for a ban before a winter moving day.

Your rights in Ontario: the Consumer Protection Act

Consumer Protection Ontario says moving companies are not licensed by the province, so the protection comes from the contract and Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act. It says every consumer contract for moving services must include:

Two rules matter most on moving day. By law the mover cannot charge you more than 10% above the estimate in your contract unless you need extra supplies or services and agree to the increase. And holding your belongings to force you to pay more than agreed is an unfair practice and an offence under the Act. If you pay an extra fee because you feel you have no choice, the ministry suggests writing “paid under protest” on the invoice, keeping a copy, and following up with the company, the police or the ministry.

How you signed also matters. A contract made in person in your home carries a 10-day cooling-off period that starts when you get your written copy. For contracts made online or by phone, the company must let you accept, decline or correct the contract first, or you can cancel up to seven days after receiving your copy. The ministry also suggests searching its Consumer Beware List for complaints and charges against a mover.

Typical moving prices

Start with the national ranges in our Canada moving costs guide. HomeStars, updated August 2026, says most companies charge $120 to $200 an hour for a two-person crew with a truck, and puts a local one-bedroom apartment move at $300 to $900 and a three-bedroom house at $900 to $1,600. It also warns that summer and month-end moves can push rates up sharply, sometimes to double the standard hourly rate. All figures are in Canadian dollars and were checked in September 2026. We did not find an Ottawa price survey with enough data to quote.

How to choose a mover in Ottawa

• Ask how the mover will park. If the job will run past three hours on a weekday or the street is narrow, ask whether it will apply for an encroachment permit.
• Check the contract for everything the Consumer Protection Act requires, including crew size, hours, truck size and the insurer’s policy number.
• Moving to or from Gatineau? Quebec’s rules and the OPC apply on that side of the river; our Montreal guide sets them out.
• Check the Consumer Beware List and CAM status before you pay a deposit.
• Record the condition of your belongings and note any damage before the crew leaves. See how to document a complaint.

Moving companies in Ottawa

These firms appear in public business listings for Ottawa, taken from a Google Places search in September 2026. We have not checked their insurance, CAM membership, prices or work, and they have not paid to appear. Check any firm yourself before you book.

The Canadian Association of Movers and the federal advice

Movers are not licensed at federal level. The Canadian Association of Movers (CAM), the industry trade body, says the industry was deregulated in the mid-1980s and each province governs the carriage of household goods separately. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs suggests getting estimates from at least three movers and checking whether each is CAM-certified; making sure the mover sees everything before it quotes; checking whether you are dealing with a broker who sub-contracts the job; and knowing that without replacement value protection, the mover is generally liable for only $0.60 per pound ($1.32 per kg) per item. CAM’s warning signs are no physical address, cash-only payment, no written promises and no visual survey of your home.

Moving to or from Ottawa across the border

If you are moving to Canada to live, or returning after a year or more abroad, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) rules decide whether your household goods come in duty- and tax-free. CBSA says to prepare two copies of a list of everything you are bringing, with values and serial numbers, split into goods with you and goods to follow; later shipments only qualify if they are on that list. You hand the list over at your first point of entry, even with nothing in hand, and the officer completes form BSF186, which you need to clear the shipment. Returning former residents must have owned and used the goods abroad for at least six months, and any single item worth over $10,000 is taxed on the excess. Our guide to preparing your goods-to-follow list for Canada covers the paperwork.

Ready to compare? See our removal and moving options or ask for moving quotes with one short form. Our guide to comparing quotes without missing extra charges is worth reading first.

Compare House Movers is a comparison and referral service, not a moving company. We do not carry out moves, and a listing here is not a recommendation.

Common questions

Sources

• Temporary construction related encroachments, City of Ottawa (ottawa.ca)
• On-street parking restrictions, City of Ottawa (ottawa.ca)
• Winter Weather Parking Bans, City of Ottawa (ottawa.ca)
• Temporary consideration parking permit, City of Ottawa (ottawa.ca)
• Hiring a mover, Consumer Protection Ontario (ontario.ca)
• Moving Costs in Canada (Updated for 2026), updated 21 August 2026 (homestars.com)
• Moving advice, Office of Consumer Affairs, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ised-isde.canada.ca)
• Choosing a Mover, Canadian Association of Movers (mover.net)
• Acts & Regulations, Canadian Association of Movers (mover.net)
• Moving or returning to Canada, Canada Border Services Agency (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)

Last checked: September 2026. City fees and provincial rules change, so confirm the current position with the city or regulator before you rely on it.