Approvals, permits and clearances

• By law, you must stay at least three metres away from overhead power lines. For more information, see our Outdoor and power line safety page. 
• Only Hydro Ottawa staff and approved contractors are permitted to work within this distance.
• If you need work done within three metres (plus conductor swing) of our overhead lines, submit a request through our electrical service request form. 

• Permanent structures cannot be built within five metres of overhead or underground high-voltage lines.
  • The overhead clearance zone is defined by Hydro Ottawa OLS0002 standard.
  • The underground clearance zone is defined by Hydro Ottawa UTS0038 standard, which follows the Ontario Electrical Safety Code’s rules. 
• The minimum clearance of five metres for high-voltage equipment is to allow for construction and future maintenance. Some secondary equipment may need less clearance, which will be confirmed during the clearance inspection.
• If your project encroaches on this zone, request a building clearance inspection through our electrical service request form. Submit engineered profile drawings if available. We will issue a Clearance Letter or provide next steps.
• You also need permission for any permanent structure on Hydro Ottawa easements. See our Landrights section below for more information.
   

• If you plan to change the ground level near our infrastructure by more than 0.3 metres, consult us first. We’ll determine if this grade change will impact our assets.
• Do not block or cover Hydro Ottawa infrastructure. Extra charges may apply if obstructions delay our work. For more information, review our Conditions of Service, sections 3.0, 3.0.3 and 3.0.4. 
• If you need an adjustment to Hydro Ottawa equipment where a proposed grade change is, submit an electrical service request under the infrastructure work type.

If you plan to plant a new tree or are maintaining existing trees near Hydro Ottawa infrastructure, it’s important to follow safe clearance requirements. This helps prevent electrical hazards, protects our equipment, and avoids costly removals or delays. Please respect the following clearance requirements:

• Planting trees near underground infrastructure: Keep trees and shrubs at least 1.5 metres away from underground infrastructure. If you can’t maintain that clearance, use a steel plate or bio-shield. Never plant directly over underground structures.
  • For more planting information, see our Tree Planting Advice brochure. 
  • If you’re planting near underground structures, review clearance specification GCS0038.
    If you’re planting near a padmounted transformer, review clearance specification UTS0038.
• Planting trees near overhead infrastructure: 
  • At maturity, a tree should be no closer than 1.5 metres to a Hydro Ottawa distribution pole. 
  • If you’re planting within 4.5 metres of a pole, choose a tree species that won’t grow taller than 6 metres or the distance to the lowest overhead conductor, as detailed in our Tree Planting Advice brochure. 
• Trimming trees near overhead infrastructure: 
  • Our forestry crews will trim within three metres of a power line.
  • It is your responsibility to monitor and trim the vegetation around your service wire (the line that feeds electricity directly to your home). See our Trimming Zones guide for required trimming clearances.
     

• Landscaping that blocks access to or covers electricity distribution infrastructure is not permitted. 
• You are responsible for maintaining your landscaping or surface finishing. You will be charged if we have to trim or remove landscaping to access our infrastructure. 
  • For detailed overhead clearance requirements, review standard OLS0003.
  • For clearances to padmounted equipment, review standard UTS0038.

These clearances include residential boulevard gardens where residents can plant gardens in the road right of way. See the Right-of-way garden section below for more information. 
 

• Maintain the following safe working space in front of all meters:
  • Indoor meters: minimum 1.5 metres clear in front of the meter base/enclosure
    Outdoor meters: minimum 1 metre clear in front of the meter base/enclosure
• Maintain the following radial clearances from combustible gas relief discharge valves:
  • 1 metre for natural gas (reduced to 30 cm with over-pressure shut-off/over-pressure cut-off).
  • 3 metres for propane gas
• For full details, see design specifications MCS0105 and MCS0106.
  If your proposed work does not meet the clearances set out above, please submit a clearance electrical service request.

If you plan to build on a Hydro Ottawa easement, submit an Encroachment Letter request through our Landrights request form. We will review your request and, if approved, issue an Encroachment Letter, which is often required for City of Ottawa building permits.
 

If you’re not sure whether your property has a Hydro Ottawa easement, find out by submitting an Easement Research request through our Landrights request form. 
 

If your project requires a common element agreement (for example, as part of a service layout or Committee of Adjustment condition), submit a Common Element Agreement request through our Landrights request form. 
 

Projects requiring new Hydro Ottawa infrastructure may also require a registered easement to allow us access to that infrastructure. This will be identified during the design process after you’ve submitted your service request. An easement can be requested through the Easement Type of Request on our Landrights request form.

 

Projects requiring new Hydro Ottawa infrastructure may also require a registered easement to allow us access to that infrastructure. This will be identified during the design process after you’ve submitted your service request. An easement can be requested through the Easement Type of Request on our Landrights Request Form.

• A land severance separates one piece of property into two or more new parcels. Approval is required through the City of Ottawa Committee of Adjustment.
• Hydro Ottawa will review servicing for the new parcels when you submit your application. We may apply a condition to your application to relocate electrical services that cross the new property lines.
• Before you apply to the City, submit a service request form, and we’ll confirm if relocations are required and if we can service each new parcel. 
• If a relocation is required as part of your Committee of Adjustment application, you must obtain a Compliance Letter from Hydro Ottawa once the work is complete to lift the condition on your application. Submit your request through our Landrights Request Form for a Compliance Letter to be issued.
• If the electrical service has been relocated before your application to the City of Ottawa, you will not need a Compliance Letter. 

• A minor variance allows you to reduce your property setback requirements. This can affect electrical servicing, including meter clearances mentioned above.
• Minor variances are requests submitted through the City of Ottawa Committee of Adjustments. 
• Before submitting your application to the City of Ottawa, you should review any proposed reduction with Hydro Ottawa by requesting a clearance inspection. This step helps us address potential impacts on your electrical service design, installation timeline and project costs. Our team will assess the impact and, if requirements are met, provide a necessary Clearance Letter to attach to your Committee of Adjustment Application. 
• If our infrastructure is reviewed during the Committee of Adjustment application and you are instructed to submit an electrical service request, you will need a Compliance Letter. To request one, submit a Landrights request form. 
• A Compliance Letter is not required when the electrical service has been relocated prior to the application to the City of Ottawa. 
   

A City of Ottawa building permit confirms your plans meet building codes, but it does not override Hydro Ottawa’s Conditions of Service. Your project must also comply with all applicable electrical standards and laws, including:

• Maintaining safe clearances from high-voltage infrastructure.
• Ensuring Hydro Ottawa has access to electricity meters and distribution equipment.
• Avoiding encroachment into restricted electrical zones, including easements.
• See our Clearances section for more information

If your project affects these areas, the City of Ottawa will require supporting documentation from Hydro Ottawa:

• Clearance Letter: If your plans involve building in a restricted electrical zone, request a clearance inspection. If requirements are met, Hydro Ottawa will issue a Clearance Letter for your building permit.
• Encroachment Letter: If your plans involve building on a Hydro Ottawa easement, submit an Encroachment Letter Request through our Landrights Request Form.
   

A City of Ottawa pool permit confirms that your plans meet the city’s building codes, but your installation must also meet our Conditions of Service and maintain safe electrical clearances from high-voltage electrical infrastructure. See the Pool and hot tub safety section on our Outdoor and power line safety page for safety information relating to pool installations. The City of Ottawa will require the following supporting documentation from us:
 

The City of Ottawa will require the following supporting documentation from us:

• Clearance Letter – Before applying to the City, request a pool clearance inspection. If requirements are met, Hydro Ottawa will issue a Clearance Letter for your permit.
• Encroachment Letter – If your pool is encroaching on a Hydro Ottawa easement, submit an Encroachment Letter Request through our Landrights Request Form.

The City of Ottawa allows residents to apply for a permit to create a garden within the road right-of-way. These gardens must meet Hydro Ottawa’s clearance standards and cannot obstruct access to our infrastructure, including underground electrical infrastructure that you may not be able to see. Always click before you dig to confirm utility locations and ensure safe work. 

• Clearance Letter – Before applying, request a clearance inspection to confirm your garden meets Hydro Ottawa’s standards. If requirements are met, Hydro Ottawa will issue a Clearance Letter for your permit.
• Encroachment Letter – If your garden is located on a Hydro Ottawa easement, request an Encroachment Letter through our Landrights Request Form.

Receiving a permit for a Right-of-Way garden does not mean that the garden is permanent -  you are responsible for removing and/or relocating plants including raised garden beds and movable containers should we need to access infrastructure below the garden. Hydro Ottawa will provide notice of planned work, but there may be emergency work that will require removal of your right-of-way garden without notice. Hydro Ottawa will not protect, repair, replace or re-instate the boulevard garden.