Property Standards

Definition of Property Standards
Property Standards are the standards of physical conditions and occupancy of a building or structure or a part of a building or structure, and includes the lands and premises belonging thereto and all mobile homes, mobile buildings, mobile structures, out buildings, fences and erections on or before now erected and includes vacant property. 
Class 1 Infractions 

Class 1 Infractions have public health, safety or property damage implications, where a risk to humans, human use or activity exists.

Enforcement is deteremined based upon which example of a Class 1 Infraction is being violated. Below are a list of Class 1 Infractions that specific Town departments handle:

 

Enforcement by Development Services (Building Department)

Some examples of Class 1 Infractions which require enforcement by our Development Services (Building Department) include, but are not limited to:

  • Issues of inadequate entering/exiting from residential units in multi-unit dwellings, including inadequate or unsafe hand railings and balustrades on stairways 
  • Unsafe dwellings (i.e. either structural or from a health and safety perspective)
  • Failure to adequately fence an outdoor pool
  • Unsafe building/structures which could collapse or from which parts of the building could become dislodged causing injury
  • Signs which block visability around points of entering/exiting to a public street or sidewalk
  • Unsafe electrical or plumbing conditions which could pose a health and safety concern
  • Any other property standards issues that have public health and safety or property damage implications, where a risk to humans or human use, health or activity exists
Enforcement by By-law Officer 

Some examples of Class 1 Infractions which require enforcement by our By-law Officer include, but are not limited to: 

  • Abandoned refrigerators or trunks located outside with operative latches
  • Dogs running at large or on a public highway
  • Cars parked blocking fire routes and accessible parking spaces
Enforcement by Emergency Services (Fire Department) 

Some examples of Class 1 Infractions which require enforcement by our Emergency Services Department include, but are not limited to:  

  • Blocked, locked or inadequately signed fire exits
  • Lack of or non-operative smoke detectors
  • Prohibited burning
Class 2 Infractions 

Class 2 Infractions have significant negative implications on the value or character of a neighbourhood but would not pose a significant risk to public health, safety or property damage. In general, such infractions would usually affect quality of life issues where only a minor risk to humans, human use or activity exists, public health, safety or property damage implications, where a risk to humans, human use or activity exists.

Enforcement is deteremined based upon which example of a Class 2 Infraction is being violated. Below are a list of Class 2 Infractions that specific Town departments handle:

 
Enforcement by Development Services (Building Department) 

Some examples of Class 2 Infractions which require enforcement by our Development Services (Building Department)  include, but are not limited to: 

  • Zoning violations
  • Decrepit or shabby buildings which do not pose immediate threat to public health and safety, but which pose risk of serious deterioration if not attended to, or which are visually obtrusive
  • Abandoned or unsafe buildings which are not secure from unauthorized entry
  • Significantly altering natural or engineered drainage patterns
Enforcement by By-law Officer  

Some examples of Class 2 Infractions which require enforcement by our By-law Officer include, but are not limited to: 

  • A property with extensive rubbish or clutter
  • Outside storage of inoperative vehicles
  • Cars parked in breach of parking by-law
  • Minor yard waste/garbage issues where potential vermin problems may develop
Class 3 Infractions 

Class 3 infractions do not have public health, safety or property damage implications that pose a risk to humans, human use or activity and tend to not have significant offsite implications. Such violations tend to be more cosmetic in nature.

 

Enforcement by Development Services (Building Department) 

Some examples of Class 3 Infractions which require enforcement by our Development Services (Building Department)  include, but are not limited to:  

  • Maintenance of fences, accessory buildings (i.e. sheds or garage) and structures
  • Nonconformity of the Town’s sign by-law where structural or sight-line issues do not exist
  • Inadequate finishing or leveling of a site where significant off-site drainage issues do not exist
  • Altering a heritage building without obtaining necessary approvals
Enforcement by By-law Officer  

Some examples of Class 3 Infractions which require enforcement by our By-Law Officer include, but are not limited to: 

  • Grass cutting or weed violations 
  • Yard waste/garbage issues
  • Noise violations
  • Any other minor property standards or yard maintenance issues that do not have health, life, safety or property damage implications that pose a risk to humans, and tend to not have significant off-site implications
How to Report a Property Standards Issues 

Requests for investigation and enforcement from the public or members of Council will be processed only if provided to staff in written form, either in print or email, including the online Report an Issue form. The names of requestors will be kept confidential, unless authorized for release by the requestor or unless required for prosecution. 

Report an Issue

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