The City of Ottawa publishes a Part 9 residential submission checklist for additional dwelling unit (ADU) building-permit applications. It helps applicants identify the information the City needs to review the proposed work. A checklist is not a design approval, and the City must confirm whether the project fits the stated Part 9 residential path.
Prepare existing and proposed drawings
The City’s checklist calls for a signed permit application and designer information, plus scaled, dimensioned drawings. Depending on the project, the package includes a site plan, existing floor plans, proposed floor plans for each ADU storey, exit-level drawings, and cross-sections or assembly specifications. A new exterior entrance may also require foundation information.
On the proposed plans, the City asks applicants to identify rooms, dimensions, ceiling heights, new and retained openings, and relevant window calculations. The plans must show where fire separations are located between the ADU, the main dwelling, and common areas such as shared laundry or exit stairs. Applicable exit plans and cross-sections show how the proposed layout and assemblies relate to the review.
The City’s checklist also asks applicants to describe or draw the heating and ventilation method, including equipment and supply-air and return-air locations. Where the house is less than five years old, it calls for a Mechanical Design Report and duct schematics. It also lists an in-duct smoke detector for a shared furnace and plumbing shut-off information where applicable.
Match the checklist to the actual application
Not every item applies to every property. For example, the checklist describes grading plans for rural lots and for certain building-area or property-line conditions. Ask Ottawa whether that trigger applies to the site and whether the application should be submitted as a Part 9 residential project. Confirm the current Building Code edition, any applicable transition, and the current checklist before preparing final drawings.
The City’s ADU submission requirements describe review inputs, not a complete construction standard. Keep building-code review separate from zoning permission and any service approvals. A professional designer and the City can confirm what the specific project needs.