Severance, Variance, and Permits

• By law, you must stay at least 3 metres away from overhead power lines. For more information, see our power line safety page. 
• Only Hydro Ottawa staff and approved contractors are permitted to work within this distance.
• If you need work done within 3 meters (plus conductor swing) of our overhead lines, submit a request through our electrical service request form. 

• Permanent structures cannot be built within 5 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 for high-voltage equipment of 5 meters is to allow for construction and future maintenance. Some secondary equipment may require lesser clearances, 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. Hydro Ottawa will issue a Clearance Letter or provide next steps.
• Permission is also required 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 meters, 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 follow the clearance requirements below.

• Planting trees near underground infrastructure: Keep trees and shrubs at least 1.5 meters away. 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 the clearance specification GCS0038 
  • If you’re planting near a padmounted transformer: review the clearance specification UTS0038 
• Planting Trees near overhead infrastructure: 
  • At maturity, a tree should be no closer than 1.5 meters to a Hydro Ottawa distribution pole. 
  • If you’re planting within 4.5 meters of a pole, choose a tree species that won’t grow taller than 6 meters 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 3 meters 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 the home). See our trimming zones page that outlines the required trimming clearances.

• Landscaping, blocking access, or covering up 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 padmount 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. 

• Hydro Ottawa requires safe working space in front of all meters:
  
   
  • Indoor meters: minimum 1500 mm clear in front of the meter base/enclosure.
  • Outdoor meters: minimum 1000 mm clear in front of the meter base/enclosure.
    
     
• Maintain radial clearances from combustible gas relief discharge valves:
  
   
  • 1 m for natural gas (reduced to 300 mm with OPSO/OPCO).
  • 3 m for propane gas.
    
     
• For full details, see our Design Specifications MCS0105 and MCS0106.
• Should your proposed work not meet the clearances above from the meter, please submit a clearance electrical service request.

For more information, review our clearance standards:

• OLS0002 Overhead High Voltage Line Clearances to Adjacent Buildings
• UTS0038 Above Ground Clearances for Padmounted Equipment
• GCS0038 Trees in Proximity to Hydro Ottawa Underground Structures
• OLS0003 Clearances to Adjacent Overhead Utility Structures

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.
• An Encroachment Letter is often required for City of Ottawa building permits.

Not sure if your property has a Hydro Ottawa easement?

• To inquire if there is a Hydro Ottawa easement on your property, submit an Easement Research Request through our Landrights Request Form. 
• We will confirm whether or not an easement applies to your property.
   

Some projects require 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. 
   

If Hydro Ottawa infrastructure has been relocated and a Hydro Ottawa easement on your property is no longer required:

• Submit a Release of Easement 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.

• 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.
•  A Compliance Letter is not required when the electrical service has been relocated prior to the application to the City. 

• 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 a comment has been made to submit an electrical service request, a Compliance Letter will be needed. Submit a Landrights Request Form for a Compliance Letter to be completed for your Committee of Adjustment application. 
• A Compliance Letter is not required when the electrical service has been adjusted prior to the application to the City. 

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 your plans meet the city’s building codes, but your installation must also meet Hydro Ottawa’s Conditions of Service and maintain safe electrical clearances from high voltage electrical infrastructure. See our Pools and Powerlines page for safety information relating to pool installations. 

• 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 call 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.