Moving tips
Moving from Toronto to Ottawa
By TLC Moving & Storage · Published 5 November 2026
Moving from Toronto to Ottawa is a 450 km move inside Ontario: about five and a quarter hours on Highways 401 and 416. Your health card and driver's licence only need a new address. What changes is local: Hydro Ottawa, City of Ottawa water billing, and about twice Toronto's snowfall.
What changes when you move from Toronto to Ottawa
Less than people expect, because both cities are in Ontario. They share a province, a health card system and a time zone: the National Research Council's time-zone table puts all of Ontario east of 90° West longitude on Eastern Time.
The changes are local. A different company sends your electricity bill, the City of Ottawa bills your water, and the city treats snow and street parking its own way from November to April.
And the distance shapes the whole plan. At about 450 km, this is a long-distance move, not a trip across town. If you want a crew for it, our Toronto to Ottawa movers page explains how TLC handles the route in both directions.
How far Toronto is from Ottawa, and the route the truck takes
City hall to city hall is about 450 km by road, roughly five and a quarter hours of driving before traffic and stops.
About 342 km of that is Highway 401 east. Highway 416 then carries you about 75 km north to Ottawa, and the last 12 km is Highway 417, the Queensway, into the city.
Highway 416 also forms the western edge of Barrhaven, so a move to Ottawa's south-west suburbs comes off the highway almost as soon as you arrive.
On moving day the drive is only part of the time. Loading in Toronto and unloading in Ottawa come on top, and a loaded truck does not keep a car's pace. Ask your movers which day the truck unloads, and make sure someone with keys is at the Ottawa address. Planning the drive itself is covered in our long-distance moving service.
Why the paperwork is lighter when you stay in Ontario
Nothing is exchanged or reissued. You change addresses, and ServiceOntario sets the deadlines:
Driver's licence and vehicle permit: 6 days
By law, you must update both within 6 days of your address changing. It is free, online or at a ServiceOntario centre, and the new licence is mailed within 4 to 6 weeks.
Health card: 30 days
Update the address within 30 days so the Ministry of Health has it on file. It is free, and a photo health card is not reissued, because it does not show an address.
A card with your address printed on it
If your health card shows an address, ServiceOntario will not change it online. You update it in person at a ServiceOntario centre.
How to set up Hydro Ottawa, water and gas before you arrive
Electricity first, because it needs the most notice. Hydro Ottawa asks new customers to send its Moving Request Form at least 10 business days before move-in.
For that form, have the new address and move-in date, your email, phone number and date of birth, one government photo ID such as your Ontario driver's licence, and your landlord's contact details if you rent.
At the Toronto end, Toronto Hydro's Start, Stop, Move Account page is where you close your service. Close it for your move-out date.
Water in Ottawa is billed by the City. City of Ottawa Revenue Services asks anyone moving into or out of a property to notify it, and takes a final meter reading on the closing date through its automated meter network. If you move without telling it, you stay liable for the account until it hears from you.
If Enbridge Gas supplies your Toronto home, submit a move request online with your new Ottawa address and both dates. Enbridge asks you to check the new address with its postal code tool first, and a new account carries a one-time new account charge on the first bill.
What an Ottawa winter means for moving day
Ottawa gets about twice Toronto's snow. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals give 231.9 cm a year at Ottawa's airport against 114.5 cm at Toronto Pearson, and 16 days a year with 5 cm or more in Ottawa against 7.2 in Toronto.
It is colder too. January's daily average is minus 10.0 °C at the Ottawa airport and minus 5.0 °C at Pearson.
Snow changes where a truck can park. Between November 15 and April 1, the City of Ottawa can call a winter weather parking ban when Environment Canada forecasts 7 cm or more. An overnight ban runs 7 pm to 7 am and is called by 9 am; a daytime ban runs 10 am to 7 pm and is called by 3:30 pm.
During a ban, vehicles parked on the street without a residential permit can be ticketed and towed. For a winter move, check the City's notice the day before, clear the driveway at the Ottawa end, and keep a salted path to the door.
Choosing where to live in Ottawa
Four areas TLC moves households into, each with its own page. For neighbourhoods closer to downtown, see our guide to moving to Ottawa.
Barrhaven
South-west, on Highway 416, so it is the first suburb off the highway from Toronto. Most streets are townhouses, which makes stairs part of the move. See moving in Barrhaven.
Kanata
In the west, along the Queensway. The Kanata North Business Park holds offices for companies such as Nokia, Cisco and Mitel. See moving in Kanata.
Nepean
Its own city from 1978 until it joined Ottawa in 2001, covering Centrepointe, Craig Henry and Bells Corners. See moving in Nepean.
Orléans
In the east end. Highway 174 is its main link to central Ottawa, and single detached houses are the largest share of its homes. See moving in Orléans.
How to book a Toronto to Ottawa move
A long-distance move is easier to schedule when the movers have the details early. TLC has moved Ottawa homes for over 20 years, and the estimate is free: call (613) 830-7402 or send the form with these:
Both addresses
Your Toronto pickup and your Ottawa delivery, with the floor and any elevator at each end.
The elevator booking
Toronto high-rises often require you to book the elevator for a move. Book it at both ends as soon as you have a date.
Your date, and a fallback
If your Ottawa closing date falls after your Toronto move-out, ask for storage in Ottawa until the new place is ready.
Anything that needs care
Name a piano, antiques or artwork when you ask for the estimate. See piano moving.
Who packs
Decide whether you pack or the crew does. See packing services.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these pages, read on 2026-11-05.
ServiceOntario
Change an address on your driver's licence, vehicle permit and health card, Government of Ontario: the 6 and 30 day deadlines, no fee, in-person rule for a card with an address.
Hydro Ottawa
Moving: the Moving Request Form, 10 business days' notice, what to have ready.
City of Ottawa
Change of ownership, water utility bills and Winter parking: notifying Revenue Services, the final meter reading, the parking ban rules.
Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas
Start, Stop, Move Account and Move, Change or Close your Service.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Canadian Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 for Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier Int'l A and Toronto Pearson: snowfall, snow days, January temperature.
National Research Council Canada and OSRM
Time zones and daylight saving time, and the OSRM driving route on OpenStreetMap data, city hall to city hall.
Questions about moving with TLC
How far is Toronto from Ottawa?
About 450 km by road, on Highways 401, 416 and 417. City hall to city hall is roughly five and a quarter hours of driving before traffic and stops.
Are Ottawa and Toronto in the same province and time zone?
Yes. Both are in Ontario and both use Eastern Time. Only the part of Ontario west of 90° West longitude is on Central Time, according to the National Research Council Canada.
Do I need a new health card or driver's licence when I move from Toronto to Ottawa?
No. You update the address: within 6 days for your driver's licence and vehicle permit, and within 30 days for your health card. Both changes are free, and a photo health card is not reissued (ServiceOntario).
How far ahead should I set up Hydro Ottawa?
At least 10 business days before you move in, through Hydro Ottawa's Moving Request Form. Have one government photo ID ready, and your landlord's details if you rent.
Is Ottawa colder and snowier than Toronto?
Yes. Environment Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals give Ottawa 231.9 cm of snow a year against 114.5 cm at Toronto Pearson, and a January daily average of minus 10.0 °C against minus 5.0 °C.
How much does it cost to move from Toronto to Ottawa?
It depends on the size of your home, how much you want packed, whether you need storage and your date. TLC prices each move after reviewing it, and the estimate is free with no obligation. Call (613) 830-7402.
Free estimate
Get your free estimate
Tell us about your move and we will come back with a free, obligation-free estimate. You can also call (613) 830-7402.