DESIGNING FOR PAWS AND PEOPLE: PETS IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT
by Christopher D. Moise OAA FRAIC
January 2025
The growing presence of pets in urban life has quietly but significantly reshaped how we think about our environment, urban and domestic. Across Canada, pet ownership has reached record highs, with many families now considering pets as indispensable members of the household. For urban designers, planners and developers, this shift is more than cultural—it’s spatial, social, and economic. Yet, our built environment hasn’t fully caught up with this reality. What does it mean to create pet-inclusive communities, particularly in multi-unit residential developments? And how can cities like Ottawa reconcile these needs within their planning and approval processes?
The answers lie in balancing a complex web of urban design challenges.
THE URBAN PET PHENOMENON
In Ottawa, as in other Canadian cities, pets are a defining feature of contemporary urban life. A 2021 study by the Canadian Animal Health Institute reported that 60% of households owned at least one pet, a figure that has been growing steadily over the past decade. For many, pets are more than companions—they’re integral to their daily routines and wellbeing. This phenomenon is especially pronounced in urban settings, where apartment living is the norm, and pets play a crucial role in reducing social isolation.
For developers and city planners, this creates both an opportunity and a challenge. The demand for pet-friendly housing and public spaces is growing, but so too are the spatial and operational complexities of integrating these elements into urban environments.
CHALLENGES FOR DEVELOPERS
For developers of multi-unit residential buildings, designing for pets is no small feat. The first challenge is space. Urban developments often work with tight site constraints, and allocating space for pet amenities—like dog runs, pet washing stations, or even dedicated outdoor relief areas—can mean sacrificing units or other revenue-generating features. These trade-offs must be justified not only financially but also in terms of market demand.
Even with space allocated, there’s the challenge of durability. Common areas must withstand wear and tear from claws, paws, and occasional accidents. Materials that are durable and easy to clean, such as scratch-resistant flooring or odor-absorbing wall finishes, come at a premium, further squeezing budgets.
Sound and smell are perhaps the most contentious issues. Noise from barking dogs or odours in hallways can quickly lead to friction among residents, making effective soundproofing and ventilation essential. These measures, however, add complexity to design and construction, not to mention ongoing maintenance costs for property managers.
Developers also face a delicate balancing act in marketing. Pet-friendly features may attract a broad demographic, but they can just as easily alienate non-pet owners who prioritize peace and cleanliness. Striking the right tone in design and marketing requires both creativity and sensitivity to diverse resident needs.*
CHALLENGES FOR CITY APPROVALS
For cities, including Ottawa, integrating pet considerations into urban design is still a work in progress. While zoning and site plan control processes cover a wide range of requirements, they rarely address the nuances of pet-friendly design. This creates a policy gap where developers are left to navigate the expectations of planners, councillors, and residents without clear standards.
Shared public spaces are a particular flashpoint. Dog parks, once seen as a luxury, are increasingly considered essential, yet their integration into dense urban areas can provoke heated debates. Balancing the needs of pet owners with those of other users—parents with children, elderly pedestrians, or cyclists—requires thoughtful design and robust public consultation.
There’s also the matter of animal welfare. In Ottawa’s cold winters, outdoor pet amenities must be designed with features like heated surfaces or windbreaks to ensure safety. Similarly, summer heatwaves highlight the need for shaded areas and accessible water stations in parks. These considerations, though small in scale, can have significant implications for approval timelines and design budgets.
OTTAWA’S OPPORTUNITY
Ottawa’s unique urban context offers both challenges and opportunities for pet-friendly urban design. The city’s commitment to intensification and its 15-minute neighbourhood framework present a chance to integrate pet-friendly spaces into walkable, mixed-use communities. However, this requires intentionality from both developers and the city. Policies that explicitly address pets—whether through zoning, design guidelines, or incentives for innovative projects—could set Ottawa apart as a leader in this emerging field.
Collaboration is key. Developers, planners, and advocacy groups must work together to ensure that the needs of pets and their owners are considered at every stage of the design process. This might mean rethinking how we allocate space in new developments or piloting creative solutions like rooftop dog runs or multi-use parks that accommodate diverse activities.
CONCLUSION
The integration of pets into urban design is no longer optional; it’s essential. In a city like Ottawa, where urban intensification and quality of life are twin priorities, there’s an opportunity to lead by example. By addressing the challenges, we can create communities that work for everyone—whether they walk on two legs or four.
* In Ontario, a no pet clause is not enforceable. This means even if you agreed to not have a pet, you can still have one. The only exception is if you live in a condo whereby the condo board can ban all pets. Landlords cannot ban a renter from having pets live in their unit. However, that legal right is not absolute.