Experts Questions and Answers

Hi Sam,
Thank you for your question. The answer to your question is yes, BUT there are installation requirements and you may or may not need to have a permit prior to the installation of such system. It depends on the type of system installed. Any installation of a solar hot water system in Ottawa should be installed by a qualified installer certified by the Canadian Solar Energy Industry Association. (http://www.cansia.ca/).
Before choosing your system I would encourage you to call the city by law department and ask whether or not you need a permit.
For more information you can follow this link to read the City of Ottawa's requirements for installation and permits http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/building_code/green/index_en.html  
I hope that this answered your question, have a great evening, Lily