Council directs staff to work with family to address concerns about popular Ottawa Halloween house

A popular Halloween house in Orléans that has raised tens of thousands of dollars for CHEO for decades is at risk of shutting down after a neighbour complained.

A popular Halloween house in Orléans that has entertained thousands and raised $100,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario may be spared from the graveyard by Ottawa City Hall.

The Albert family said earlier this month it may have to shut down its annual Halloween display at their home on Pintail Terrace after a neighbour complained to Bylaw Services.

• ‘It’s a shame’: Neighbour’s complaint might shut down popular Ottawa Halloween house

Officials with Bylaw Services told CTV News Ottawa an investigation determined that “several accessory structures associated with the display do not comply with the applicable provisions of the City of Ottawa Zoning Bylaw, which governs the location and placement of structures on residential properties.”

The property features a structure made to look like a castle at the front of the house, a long building made of wood in the back that serves as the haunted house and other structures.

On Wednesday, Council approved a motion from Coun. Matthew Luloff to direct Bylaw Services and Building Code Services staff to work with the Albert family to “review available regulatory and planning options that may permit the continued operation of the charitable Halloween display.”

Luloff said the Albert family never “asked for special treatment. He simply asked for the opportunity to continue giving back to his community.”

The councillor insists the motion “does not exempt anyone from the rules,” but directs staff to work with the family to explore “lawful planning and regulatory” options to allow the Halloween house display to continue.

“Today wasn’t about a haunted house,” Luloff said in a Facebook post.

“It was about preserving something that has brought neighbours together for 26 years, given hundreds of young people the opportunity to volunteer, and raised more than $100,000 for CHEO.”

The Albert family said it takes about two months to get the property ready for the Halloween display, which normally runs between Oct. 1 and Halloween.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin

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