By Jason Polonski, REALTOR® with Right at Home Realty · Last updated: October 2026
Westboro condos give you one of Ottawa’s most walkable addresses at a lower entry price than a detached house in the same neighbourhood. Most of the supply is newer mid-rise and high-rise buildings along Richmond Road and near the Transitway, with low-rise boutique buildings and stacked townhomes tucked onto side streets. They suit first-time buyers, downsizers and professionals who want shops, the river and transit within a few minutes’ walk.
The trade-off is that two condos in the same block can be very different purchases. Fees, what the fees cover, parking, the health of the reserve fund and the building’s age all change what you are really buying. This guide walks through each one. For the bigger picture on the neighbourhood itself, start with the Westboro real estate and neighbourhood guide.
What Kinds of Condos Are in Westboro?
Westboro’s condo market grew as the neighbourhood intensified over the past two decades. The result is a mix that is mostly newer than what you find in many other Ottawa condo areas, which affects fees, layouts and maintenance.
Mid-rise and high-rise buildings on Richmond Road
These are the buildings most people picture when they think of Westboro condos: residential floors above street-level retail, with concierge or lobby service in some, underground parking and amenity rooms. They put you directly on the main street, with cafés, restaurants and the Westboro Village shops downstairs. Upper floors on the north side can have river views.
Low-rise and boutique buildings
Smaller buildings of four to six storeys sit on the side streets between Richmond Road and Byron Avenue and in the blocks toward Scott Street. Fewer units means fewer owners sharing the cost of big repairs, so the reserve fund matters even more. Many buyers prefer them for the quieter streets and the sense of knowing their neighbours.
Stacked and condo townhomes
Condo townhomes and stacked townhouses give you a front door at grade and often more square footage than an apartment-style unit, while the corporation still handles roofs, exteriors and grounds. They are a common middle step for buyers who want Westboro but are not ready for, or cannot stretch to, a freehold home. If you are weighing that choice, read condo vs freehold in Ottawa.
Who Westboro Condos Suit Best
A Westboro condo makes the most sense when location is the main thing you are paying for. The neighbourhood’s appeal is the daily routine: walking to groceries, the river pathway, Westboro Beach and restaurants without needing a car for every errand.
First-time buyers use a condo to get into an inner-west neighbourhood where freehold prices are out of reach. Compare the carrying cost against renting in the same buildings using renting vs buying in Ottawa.
Downsizers often come from larger homes in Nepean, Kanata or Westboro itself. They want one-floor living, an elevator and less maintenance, but they do not want to give up a neighbourhood with character. Our guide to Ottawa neighbourhoods for downsizing compares Westboro with other options, and downsizing in Westboro walks through the move step by step.
Professionals and federal employees value the short commute to Tunney’s Pasture and downtown. Investors are drawn by steady rental demand, but should check each building’s rules on rentals before buying. The City of Ottawa’s short-term rental rules are strict, and many condo declarations restrict them further.
If you are still deciding whether this lifestyle fits, is condo living right for you? covers the day-to-day realities.
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Condo Fees in Westboro: What They Cover and What to Watch
Monthly condo fees in Westboro vary widely from building to building. The number on the listing only means something once you know what it pays for and whether it is sustainable.
What is included
Fees always fund common-area operations, building insurance, management and contributions to the reserve fund. Some buildings also include heat, water or air conditioning. Many newer buildings meter units individually, so your fee is lower but you pay those utilities yourself. Compare buildings on total monthly cost, not on fees alone.
Reserve funds and special assessments
The reserve fund pays for major repairs such as roofs, windows, garage membranes and elevators. Under Ontario rules, a corporation must complete a comprehensive reserve fund study within its first year and update it at least every three years, according to the Condominium Authority of Ontario’s reserve fund guide. When a reserve falls short, owners can face a special assessment, a one-time charge on top of regular fees.
A large balance alone does not prove a building is healthy. What matters is whether planned contributions keep up with the repairs the study forecasts over the next 30 years.
How fees affect your mortgage
Lenders count part of your condo fee when they calculate how much you can borrow, so a high-fee unit can lower your approval amount. Get your mortgage pre-approval with a specific fee range in mind, and review the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s mortgage guidance before you shop.
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Reading the Status Certificate on a Westboro Condo
The status certificate is the most important document in a resale condo purchase. It shows the unit’s fees and arrears, the reserve fund balance, the date of the last reserve fund study, any planned fee increases or special assessments, insurance details and any lawsuits involving the corporation.
The corporation must provide it within 10 days of a request for a maximum fee of $100, as explained by the Condominium Authority of Ontario. In a competitive offer, buyers often make the purchase conditional on a lawyer’s review of the certificate. Our guide to status certificates in Ontario explains what to look for line by line.
Questions to ask about any Westboro building
- When was the last reserve fund study, and does the funding plan call for fee increases?
- Are any major projects coming, such as window replacement, garage repairs or balcony work?
- Is parking owned as a separate unit or assigned as exclusive use, and is a locker included?
- What do the rules say about pets, rentals, renovations and short-term stays?
- Has the building had water leaks, elevator problems or insurance claims?
The legal framework behind these documents is the Ontario Condominium Act, 1998.
Parking, Transit and Getting Around From a Westboro Condo
Parking is one of the biggest price variables in a Westboro condo. A unit with owned underground parking and a locker can sell for meaningfully more than an otherwise identical unit without one, and some buildings have a waiting list for spaces. Confirm on the status certificate exactly what transfers with the unit.
Many Westboro condo owners rely less on a car. Westboro station, on the Transitway corridor along the neighbourhood’s north side, is one of the stations on the O-Train Line 1 western extension. The National Capital Commission describes Westboro and Kichi Zībī as future O-Train stations within walking distance of Westboro Beach. City officials have targeted early 2027 for the western service, as reported by Capital Current; check OC Transpo’s O-Train West page for the latest timeline.
Buildings within a short walk of a station tend to hold their appeal with buyers and tenants. That is worth weighing alongside floor plan and fees when you compare two similar units.
Resale vs New Construction Condos in Westboro
Westboro has both resale buildings and new projects, and the buying process is different for each.
Resale condos let you see the actual unit, the actual view and the building’s track record. You can review years of financial statements and minutes, and you close on a date you negotiate.
Pre-construction and new condos come with a 10-day cooling-off period after you sign, new-home warranty coverage through Tarion, and modern layouts. They also carry risks: construction delays, an interim occupancy period where you pay an occupancy fee before the building registers, and closing costs that can include development levies and HST adjustments. See our guides to buying a new build in Ottawa and the GST/HST new home rebate.
Whichever route you choose, budget for closing costs in Ontario, including land transfer tax. Our land transfer tax calculator gives you the number in seconds.
How to Compare Westboro Condos Side by Side
When two units look similar on paper, line them up on the same five points: total monthly cost (fees plus utilities), parking and locker, reserve fund health and upcoming projects, distance to the future O-Train station, and the building’s rules. The unit that wins on those five usually wins at resale too. You can also browse current Westboro homes and condos for sale and see how other Ottawa condo areas compare.
Buy Your Westboro Condo With a REALTOR® Who Checks the Building
Jason Polonski has helped hundreds of buyers and sellers across Ottawa over more than 15 years, and he brings something most agents cannot: a background in construction and the electrical trades. On a condo showing, that means looking past the finishes at the things that cost money later — the age of the in-suite heating and cooling equipment, window and balcony door seals, signs of past water entry, and what the reserve fund study says about the building’s big-ticket repairs.
He reads status certificates with you before you commit, flags fee and assessment risks in plain language, and helps you price an offer against real comparable sales. If you are selling a house to buy a condo, he coordinates both sides so your dates line up. Learn more about Jason, read client feedback on his Google Business Profile, or meet him through the Westboro REALTOR® page.
Recognition includes the Chairman’s Club (2025, 2021) and Best in Ottawa Top REALTOR® seven years running. Call or text (613) 601-9333 to talk through the Westboro buildings on your list.
Westboro Condos FAQs
Westboro condos benefit from the neighbourhood’s walkability, retail and future O-Train access, which supports both resale and rental demand. Returns depend on the building’s fees, reserve fund health and rental rules, so review the status certificate before buying.
Fees vary widely by building, size and what is included, such as heat or water. Compare total monthly cost, fees plus any separately metered utilities, rather than the fee alone.
Check the reserve fund balance, the date of the last reserve fund study, planned fee increases, special assessments, insurance coverage and any legal actions. A real estate lawyer should review it before your offer goes firm.
Some do and some do not. Parking may be a separately owned unit or an exclusive-use space, and it adds noticeable value, so confirm what transfers with the unit on the status certificate.
Westboro station is on the O-Train Line 1 western extension. City officials have targeted early 2027 for service, so confirm the current timeline with OC Transpo.
Ottawa’s short-term rental rules are strict, and many condo declarations prohibit short stays. Check both the City rules and the building’s declaration and rules before you buy.
Resale lets you inspect the unit and review the building’s financial history. New construction offers warranty coverage and modern layouts, but involves occupancy fees, possible delays and different closing costs.
