Potholes in Ottawa, ON

Population 1,017,449 · Ontario

This page shows pothole reports submitted in Ottawa, Ontario. RoadRot is a free, independent platform — anyone can report a pothole, and reports get forwarded to the responsible municipality.

3
Active
0
Fixed
2
Severe
3
Total reported
View 3 potholes on the map ›

Why Ottawa gets potholes

Ottawa averages nearly 80 freeze-thaw cycles a year across its 6,000 kilometres of roads, which is basically a recipe for pavement destruction. Water gets into small cracks, freezes, expands, and breaks the surface apart from the inside out. Heavy road salt use through the winter adds to it: salty water that refreezes in cracks compounds the damage, and salt dries out and weakens the top asphalt layer over time.

Recent reports

How to report potholes in Ottawa

The City of Ottawa's official reporting options are 311 by phone (or 613-580-2400 if 311 isn't available) and an online form at 311.ottawa.ca, filed under "Road and sidewalk maintenance." There's no dedicated city pothole app; the phone line and web form are it. RoadRot works alongside those channels: you drop a pin on the public map, rate severity, add a photo if you have one, and other drivers can confirm your report to give it more weight. If you want to push harder, the built-in email tool lets you send a complaint directly to your municipal representative about a specific pothole, which you trigger yourself.
Guides

Hit a pothole in Ottawa and damaged your vehicle? Read the Ontario pothole damage claim guide — deadlines, where to file, and what evidence you need. New to RoadRot? See how to report a pothole.

Common questions

Who is responsible for fixing potholes in Ottawa?

Most city streets are maintained by Ottawa's Public Works Department. Provincial highways like the 417 (The Queensway) and the 416 are the responsibility of Ontario's Ministry of Transportation. Ottawa Road 174 is a municipal expressway maintained by the city, though as of early 2024 there are plans to transfer it to provincial jurisdiction.

How do I report a pothole in Ottawa?

Call 311 (or 613-580-2400) or submit a report through the online form at 311.ottawa.ca under "Road and sidewalk maintenance." For provincial highways like the 417, you'd contact the Ministry of Transportation separately. You can also pin the pothole on RoadRot so other drivers can see and confirm it.

How long does Ottawa have to fix a pothole after it's reported?

Ontario's Minimum Maintenance Standards require the city to repair a pothole within a window of 4 to 30 days, depending on the pothole's size and whether it's on a paved or unpaved road. Larger, more dangerous potholes on paved roads come with shorter deadlines.

Can I claim compensation for vehicle damage from a pothole in Ottawa?

You can file a claim with the City of Ottawa, but success generally depends on proving the city knew about the pothole and failed to fix it within a reasonable time. Documenting the pothole with photos, the location, and the date is important if you want to make a case. A public report on RoadRot creates a timestamped, visible record that can support that kind of documentation.

When is pothole season worst in Ottawa?

Late winter and early spring are the roughest stretch, typically February through April, when temperatures bounce above and below freezing repeatedly and the damage from the whole winter starts showing up at once. City crews fill around 250,000 potholes a year on average, and the workload spikes hard during that window.

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