Safe exchange spots in Ottawa: addresses and rules from the Ottawa Police Service
The Ottawa Police Service publishes 5 spots for exchanges between individuals in Ottawa, under the name “Safe trade zones”. Below are their addresses, the rules the service states and a link to its page.
Where
Metcalfe Street
466 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa
The visitors lot behind the station at 474 Elgin Street.
Hours: Hours not stated by Ottawa Police Service
Kanata
211 Huntmar Drive, Kanata
Hours: Hours not stated by Ottawa Police Service
Nepean
245 Greenbank Road, Nepean
Hours: Hours not stated by Ottawa Police Service
Leitrim
4561 Bank Street, Gloucester
Hours: Hours not stated by Ottawa Police Service
Orléans
3343 St-Joseph Boulevard, Orléans
Hours: Hours not stated by Ottawa Police Service
Who watches the spot
The zones are marked by signage and a blue logo. The Ottawa Police Service says they are not monitored 24/7.
The service’s rules
- The service assumes no responsibility for exchanges and does not mediate them.
- Its tips: meet in daylight and bring a friend.
Meet here for your Marka pickup
On Marka, an in-person pickup order (the DIRECT rail) is settled face to face: no online payment goes through Marka, and you and the other person agree how to pay. The meeting place is yours to choose, and one of the spots above in Ottawa is a sensible one. Marka has no arrangement with the Ottawa Police Service.
- The seller accepts the order.
- You agree a time and a meeting place in Marka chat; pick one of the spots on this page.
- Each side checks in when they arrive.
- The buyer inspects the item on the spot, then accepts or rejects it.
- If the buyer accepts, the seller confirms the handover with a QR code or a one-time code, and the sale is complete.
Marka does not insure cash handoffs. Meet in public, bring a friend and trust your gut.
Questions
Are the safe exchange spots in Ottawa watched?
The zones are marked by signage and a blue logo. The Ottawa Police Service says they are not monitored 24/7.
What hours can I use them?
The Ottawa Police Service does not state hours for its spots on the page we read. Check with the service, and choose daylight and a busy time.
Can I use one for a Marka pickup?
Yes, if the seller and buyer agree: the meeting place is theirs to choose, and Marka has no arrangement with the Ottawa Police Service. A DIRECT order is settled in person, with no online payment through Marka.
Is this current?
We read the Ottawa Police Service’s page on 2026-10-21. Programs change; confirm with the service before you go.
Source
Read from Ottawa Police Service’s own page: https://www.ottawapolice.ca/en/community-safety-and-crime-prevention/crime-prevention/safe-trade-zones/. Checked 2026-10-21.
Marka is not affiliated with the Ottawa Police Service, which has not endorsed Marka and has no arrangement with it. This page summarises what the service publishes; confirm with the service before you go.