Ottawa property tax

Rates from the Ontario Financial Information Return (FIR) Schedule 22 as filed by the City of Ottawa (FIR decimal fractions shown here as percent: FIR value x 100). Ottawa's residential rate is the city-wide general levy plus city-wide police and conservation authority levies, plus area-rated fire and transit levies that depend on the service area, plus the provincial education rate. Headline = urban fire service area + Urban Transit Area. The FIR rows do not name the fire/transit areas; levy seq 01 is matched to the urban areas because it carries by far the largest assessment base (see openIssues). Not included: small local special-area levies that apply only to some properties (FIR 'Recreation Facilities' and 'Other Area Rates'; e.g. the Council by-laws list Mosquito control, Britannia Village flood protection and Stonebridge Community Association special levies). Area totals are sums computed from the FIR components, not totals published by the City.

Rates as published for the residential class. Bills can also include fixed charges, local improvement levies and utility fees that are not based on assessed value.

Ottawa's total residential rate of 1.2271% is below the 1.4606% average of the 60 Ontario municipalities we cover. A lower rate does not always mean a lower bill: tax = assessed value × rate, so cities with high home values often have lower rates.

Rates are the residential rates in each city's latest confirmed year. All Ontario municipalities · National rankings

From Ottawa's official property tax pages (sources 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 5, 23). Check your bill for the exact amounts and dates.

These programs are run by the city or the province. Eligibility is decided by the organization that runs each one; follow the links for the official rules.

• Full property tax deferral program

  Full deferral of property taxes for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities; deferred amounts bear interest at 5% per annum and become due when eligibility ends, the property is sold/transferred or on the applicant's death (unless a qualifying spouse survives). 2026 limits stated: current value assessment not over $498,000 (Residential or Farm class); total gross household income $59,397.64 (2026) or less. Application fee applies. Run by City of Ottawa.

• Partial property tax deferral program

  Deferral of the year-over-year tax increase (increase must be greater than $100 and 5% over the previous year) for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities; total relief limited to 75% of current assessed value; 5% per annum interest; same 2026 CVA ($498,000) and income ($59,397.64) limits. Run by City of Ottawa.

• Farm Grant Program

  Lets eligible non-commercial farm property owners pay the June final property tax instalment in December ('allowing the June final property tax instalment to be paid in December'). Run by City of Ottawa.

• Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit (OEPTC)

  A tax-free Ontario payment that helps residents with property tax and the sales tax on energy costs. For the 2026 benefit year the maximum is $1,307, or $1,488 for seniors, paid through the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

• Northern Ontario Energy Credit (NOEC)

  A tax-free payment for residents of 10 Northern Ontario districts to help with higher home energy costs. For the 2026 benefit year the maximum is $189 for a single person and $290 for families, paid through the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

• Ontario Senior Homeowners' Property Tax Grant (OSHPTG)

  An annual Ontario grant of up to $500 for low- to moderate-income homeowners aged 64 or older who paid Ontario property tax on their principal residence. It is claimed on Form ON-BEN with the income tax return and paid by the Canada Revenue Agency.

• Vacant Unit Tax (By-law No. 2022-135) in force 2026

  Tax on residential-class properties declared or deemed vacant for more than 184 days in the previous calendar year (owners must declare occupancy status every year; no declaration means the property is deemed vacant). The City states: 'The tax is calculated based on the property's assessed value, and is applied on the Final Tax Bill, which is due on the third Thursday of June each year. For the first year a property is vacant, the rate is 1%. For each additional consecutive year, the rate goes up 1% up to a maximum of 5%. The rate resets to 1% after one year of occupancy.'

• Solid waste fee on the residential tax bill in force 2026

  'Residential tax bills include a solid waste fee: $267/year for curbside households and $184/year for multi-residential units.' It is a fixed fee shown on the property tax bill, not a rate on assessed value.

• Ottawa Vacant Unit Tax

  Ottawa's Vacant Unit Tax is an annual City tax on residential units that were unoccupied for more than 184 days in the previous calendar year. Owners of eligible residential properties must declare each year by the interim property tax due date, which was March 19, 2026 for the 2025 occupancy year.