Ottawa Property Tax Calculator

Understanding Ottawa Property Taxes

Ottawa’s residential property tax rate of approximately 1.07% is higher than Toronto’s or Vancouver’s but is applied to significantly lower assessed property values. The rate includes the municipal portion (funding city services such as transit, police, fire, and roads), an education levy set by the Ontario government, and the urban or rural area rate. Ottawa’s tax rate is set each year during the City Council budget deliberations, typically in December for the following year.

As Ontario’s capital and a major federal employment centre, Ottawa’s property market has distinct characteristics. Approximately 20% of the workforce is employed by the federal government, providing stability to the housing market. Property assessments are conducted by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), which uses a market-value approach. Ottawa straddles the Ontario-Quebec border, and buyers comparing properties in Ottawa versus Gatineau should note that Quebec has a separate assessment and taxation system with different rates and a welcome tax instead of Ontario’s land transfer tax.

Ottawa Property Tax Breakdown (2026 Approximate)

Ottawa offers a property tax and water/sewer relief program for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities. Eligible applicants can receive a deferral or cancellation of part of their property tax increase. Homeowners who believe their MPAC assessment is inaccurate can file a Request for Reconsideration free of charge. Ottawa property taxes can be paid through a monthly pre-authorized payment plan, which helps homeowners budget by spreading the annual bill across 12 equal installments.