RURAL PROPERTY GUIDE
Rural Zoning in Ottawa: Outbuildings, Home Businesses and More
Last updated: September 2026
Rural zoning in Ottawa decides what you can build and do on a country property: how big a shop can be, whether you can run a business, add a coach house or keep horses and hens. Most rural homes are zoned Rural Countryside (RU) or Rural Residential (RR). Under the City’s new Zoning By-law 2026-50, rural lots generally allow more and larger accessory buildings than urban lots, home-based businesses with a small number of employees, up to two dwelling units including a coach house, and backyard hens on larger lots.
This guide summarizes the rules buyers ask about most. It’s a plain-language overview, not a legal opinion. Zoning can vary by property through exceptions and overlays, so confirm the rules for a specific address with the City before you buy or build.
Planning to build? See how to choose a custom home builder in Ottawa, what it costs to build a custom home and my guide to new construction homes in Ottawa.
Ottawa’s New Zoning By-law
Ottawa has a new comprehensive Zoning By-law 2026-50, enacted by Council in March 2026 to replace Zoning By-law 2008-250. Parts of the new by-law were appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, and where a provision is under appeal, the old by-law’s rule can still apply. For now, two by-laws can matter for the same property, so confirm which rules apply to the one you’re looking at.
The rules below reflect our reading of the new by-law. Numbers can differ for a specific lot.
How to Find Your Property’s Zoning
- Search the address on geoOttawa, the City’s online map, and turn on the zoning layer.
- Note the zone code, such as RU, RR3 or AG, and any exception number or overlay.
- Look up the zone and any exception in the by-law.
- For anything unusual, call 3-1-1 or ask the City for a zoning confirmation.
Also check the Official Plan designation. It matters for severances and rezoning. See severing rural land in Ottawa.
RU and RR Zoning: The Main Rural Zones
| Rural Countryside (RU) | Rural Residential (RR) | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical use | Larger rural lots, farms, hobby farms, country homes | Estate subdivisions and clusters of rural homes |
| Minimum lot area | 0.8 ha for a home (2 ha for agricultural or equestrian uses) | 8,000 m² (about 2 acres), unless a subzone says otherwise |
| Minimum lot width | 50 m (60 m for agricultural uses) | 50 m |
| Front / rear yard | 10 m / 10 m | 10 m / 10 m |
| Interior side yard | 5 m | 6 m |
| Maximum height | 12 m | 11 m |
| Maximum lot coverage | 20% | 15% |
| Dwelling units | Up to 2, including a coach house | Up to 2, including a coach house |
Other rural zones include Agricultural (AG), Rural Commercial (RC), Rural General Industrial, Mineral Extraction (ME) and Village zones such as V1 to V3 in places like Carp and Constance Bay. Many estate subdivisions have RR subzones with their own lot sizes.
Can I Build a Shop, Garage or Barn?
This is the question we hear most. The new by-law is generous in the rural area:
- Number: in the rural zones, there’s no limit on the number of accessory buildings. In villages, the limit is two.
- Size: the total area of accessory buildings on the lot can be up to the greater of 5% of the lot area or 150 m² (about 1,600 sq. ft.) in the AG, RU and RR zones. On a 2-acre (0.8 ha) lot, 5% is about 400 m², or roughly 4,300 sq. ft. In villages, the limit is 55 m² and no more than 50% of the yard.
- Height: up to 12 m in the AG and RU zones (with some RU subzone exceptions), 6 m in other rural zones including RR, and 4.5 m in villages.
- Separation: at least 1.2 m from other buildings.
- Setbacks: accessory buildings must still meet the zone’s yard setbacks.
These figures are our reading of the by-law’s general rules. Subzones and site-specific exceptions can change them, so confirm for the specific lot before you design a shop.
Agricultural buildings on a farm are treated differently. Building code rules for farm buildings also differ, and you’ll still need a building permit for most structures over 15 m² in area.
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Can I Add a Coach House or Second Unit?
Yes, in many cases. The RU and RR zones permit up to two dwelling units on a lot, including a coach house. On a rural property, a second unit also needs septic capacity and a water supply that can support it. The Ottawa Septic System Office will review the change of use, and if the existing system is too small, you’ll need a permit to upgrade or replace it. See septic systems and well water systems.
This is often a better route than a severance for families who want an in-law suite or a home for adult children. It keeps the land together and avoids the Committee of Adjustment. See building a custom home or addition on rural land.
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Can I Run a Business from My Rural Home?
Yes. Home-based businesses are permitted in all zones that allow homes, with extra flexibility in the rural area:
- Who runs it: the operator must live in the home.
- Employees: up to four non-resident employees in the RU, AG, RC and ME zones, and up to two in other rural zones.
- Space in the home: up to 49% of the dwelling’s gross floor area.
- In a detached building: up to 55 m² on lots under 0.8 ha (75 m² with the Village Residential Enterprise Overlay), and up to 150 m² on lots of 0.8 ha or more.
- Outdoor storage: in RR, up to 2% of the lot area, screened by a 1.5 m opaque fence. In RU, AG and ME, the lesser of 5% of the lot area or 100 m², screened. Hazardous chemicals and explosives aren’t allowed.
- Sales: in RU, AG, ME and village zones, you can sell items made on site, indoors or out.
- Instruction: up to five clients at a time for teaching or lessons.
- Home daycare: permitted in the dwelling, not in a garage or accessory building.
This makes rural properties popular with electricians, contractors, landscapers, mechanics and artisans. Commercial vehicles, heavy equipment and larger operations may need other zoning, so check first. The City’s home-based business information and your insurer are good first stops.
Can I Keep Horses, Chickens or Other Animals?
On most rural lots, yes:
- Horses: permitted in the RU zone on lots of 0.8 ha or more, with a stable. Agricultural and equestrian uses need 2 ha.
- Hens: up to 10 hens on lots of 0.8 ha or more in the RU and RR zones. Roosters are generally not allowed on smaller residential lots.
- Farm animals: in the RU zone, agricultural uses, including livestock, need a lot of at least 2 ha. The AG zone is for working farms and has a much larger minimum lot for agricultural uses.
- Farm produce stand: a small stand of about 28 m² or less can sit closer to the road than other buildings, with a front setback of about 6 m, in some rural zones.
Barns and manure storage also have to meet Ontario’s Minimum Distance Separation rules. The City’s animal care and control by-law applies too. If animals are the reason you’re moving, see hobby farms for sale in Carp.
Fences on Rural Properties
Ottawa’s Fence By-law 2003-462 sets heights for residential properties: generally up to 1 m in a front yard and 2.13 m in other yards, with a visibility triangle at corners. Barbed wire and electric fencing are prohibited on residential properties, but the by-law doesn’t apply to fences on land used for an agricultural operation. Pools need an enclosure under the Pool Enclosure By-law. Shared boundary fences are also governed by Ontario’s Line Fences Act.
When a Property Doesn’t Fit the Rules
If what you want to build or do isn’t permitted, there are two main options:
- Minor variance: for small departures, such as a slightly taller shop or reduced setback, apply to the Committee of Adjustment.
- Zoning by-law amendment (rezoning): for a different use or larger change, apply to the City. This takes longer, costs more and isn’t guaranteed.
Also watch for legal non-conforming uses: something that was legal when established but no longer meets the rules, such as an older workshop business or a second home. These can usually continue, but may be limited if expanded or abandoned. Ask for proof when buying.
Zoning Checks Before You Buy
Before firming up on a rural property:
- Confirm the zone, subzone, exceptions and overlays.
- Check that existing buildings, apartments and businesses have permits and are legal.
- Measure how much accessory building space you have left.
- Check the septic capacity for any second unit or business.
- Look for conservation authority regulated areas such as floodplains and wetlands.
- Ask about easements, hydro corridors and nearby pits, quarries or barns.
A buyer planning a shop, horses or a business should make those plans part of the due diligence, not an afterthought. See buying a rural property in Ottawa, acreages for sale in Carp and Carp estate homes.
Related Manotick guides: land and building lots in Manotick.
How Jason Polonski Helps Rural Buyers
Jason Polonski, a REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty, has more than 15 years in Ottawa’s west end, a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Finance from Concordia University, and recognition including the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. His construction and electrical trades background, including a technical diploma in Construction Electricity, means he looks at shops, garages, panels and hydro service with a builder’s eye and knows which questions to put to the City.
He helps buyers find rural properties that fit a real plan, whether that’s a heated shop, a home business, a coach house for family or horses. As a move coordinator, he lines up the sale of your current home with your rural purchase, and offers a 1% Listing Commission, charged on the final sold price, on the home you’re selling. His aim is to help you avoid a timing mistake first, then get the best price second. Learn more about Jason or read client reviews on his Google Business Profile.
Talk to Jason About a Rural Property
Looking for a rural property with room for a shop, business or animals? Call or text Jason at (613) 601-9333 or email polonskiottawa@gmail.com. He’s available seven days a week. Start with the Carp real estate guide.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rural Zoning in Ottawa
In the AG, RU and RR zones, the total area of accessory buildings can be up to the greater of 5% of the lot area or 150 m². On a 0.8-hectare lot, that’s about 400 m². Height limits are 12 m in the AG and RU zones and 6 m in RR.
Yes. Home-based businesses are allowed if the operator lives there. Rural zones allow up to two or four non-resident employees, depending on the zone, and a detached business building of up to 150 m² on lots of 0.8 hectares or more.
Yes, up to 10 hens on lots of 0.8 hectares or more in the RU and RR zones. Keeping livestock as an agricultural use in the RU zone generally needs a lot of at least 2 hectares.
Often yes. The RU and RR zones allow up to two dwelling units, including a coach house, provided the septic system and water supply can support it and permits are obtained.
RU is the Rural Countryside zone. It covers most non-farm rural land and permits homes, agriculture, equestrian uses, home businesses and some rural commercial uses, with a minimum lot of 0.8 hectares for a home.
RU (Rural Countryside) allows a wider range of rural and agricultural uses on larger lots. RR (Rural Residential) is mainly for homes in estate subdivisions, with lower height limits for accessory buildings and fewer farm uses.
RR is the Rural Residential zone, used mainly for estate subdivisions and clusters of country homes. It generally requires lots of about 8,000 m² (about 2 acres) with 50 m of frontage, allows up to two dwelling units, and limits accessory buildings to 6 m in height.
Search your address on geoOttawa and turn on the zoning layer, then look up the zone and any exception in the City’s zoning by-law. For confirmation, contact the City.
