Patios & Café Seating Program in the ByWard District

• Please review the guidebook Patios and Café Seating in the ByWard Market to review everything you should need to complete your planning and application.

• All holders of a right-of-way permit should be familiar with the City of Ottawa’s Patio By-law to ensure that you understand your obligations.

• Please review the site map of the ByWard Market District Authority. All patios within the black boundary should apply with BMDA. Any patio applications outside of this area should apply through the City of Ottawa’s right of way patio permit system.

  Note: BMDA mandate is to prioritize market vending around the exterior of 55 ByWard Market which means that there is no capacity to extend full-season patios. As such, tenants at 55 ByWard, without a predefined patio space in their lease, will be provided with a Café Seating Permit at no cost. This permit will allow up to 4 bistro tables and six chairs directly out front of your unit. Please select “Café Seating” during the application process below.

Once you have submitted your contact details, you will receive an email with a custom link to your right-of-way portal. This is where you will submit your patio or café seating plans and insurance certificates.

The BMDA requires proof of commercial general liability insurance ($ 5 Million for Patios / $2 Million for café seating) and broad form property insurance with BMDA and the City of Ottawa listed as additional insureds.

You will also require:

• Patio applications: A detailed plan/sketch [Example] of the proposed patio. The plan must include:

  • patio location;

  • pedestrian sidewalks;

  • distance from any structure in the ROW (ex: fire hydrants, pedestals, transit stops);

  • location to any traffic control devices; and

  • must indicate elevation relative to street level.

• A signed Patio Consent Form demonstrating that your buildings property owner acknowledges and approves you installing a patio extension outside the building.

• Your AGCO liquor licence number, if applicable.

• Please use the form below to submit your business and contact details. Once submitted, you will receive an invite to our Patio and Café Seating portal where you can submit a permit request for your business.

  • This portal will be where you submit future permit renewals, insurance certificate updates, and can view the status of any submissions.

• Applications received by March 17th (including payment of application fees) will be reviewed and processed for permits starting in April.

• Applications will be accepted after March 17th and processed on a case by case basis.

  • Applications must be submitted no later than 10 business days in advance of any use of the ROW.

  • Temporary patio extensions for special events are reviewed on a case by case basis. Contact us at patios@bmda.ca to learn more.

• Upon receipt of an application, BDMA will send an invoice for your application fee.

• The 2026 processing fee for existing patio plans is $79.00 plus HST.

• Fees should be paid as indicated on the invoice.

• BDMA will contact you if we require any additional details or clarifications.

• Successful applications received before March 17th shall receive their permits within 10 days.