Resident concerns make up a large amount of the investigations that we undertake and typically inform the department of concerns or nuisances in the community. However, by-laws may also be enforced proactively in identified trouble areas that have been identified require a more targeted focus or as policy dictates. Town By-laws that we enforce include Dog Control, Yards and Grass, Parking, Noise, and various other matters. Visit our By-laws page to see our most frequently requested by-laws.
Municipal Enforcement
Made up of Municipal Law Enforcement Officers (MLEOs) The Municipal Enforcement team is responsible for the enforcement and education of municipal By-laws and investigation of complaints across the municipality. These By-laws are local regulations passed by Council under provincial legislation such as the Municipal Act, Building Code Act and Planning Act. We prioritize enforcement through education and work with citizens to resolve violations using this philosophy.
Citizen concerns should be made to the Department by the original complainant. The fastest and most efficient way to submit an issue is to use our use our online form by clicking the report an issue button below.
Our Office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Per our Customer Service Standards, department staff will attempt to contact you within two business days of your submission.
For more information on other issues and services provided please select the appropriate section.
What kind of concerns do you investigate?
How do you prioritize what you are enforcing?
For more detailed information on our enforcement policy such as how complaints are handled and which department is responsible please view our By-law Enforcement Policy.
I’ve been told my concern is a “civil matter”. What does that mean?
A civil matter is an issue between two private parties, one that doesn’t involve the Town of Greater Napanee. This happens when two parties (meaning people, groups of people, businesses or other organizations) find themselves in a disagreement over an issue where no City by-laws or criminal laws are being broken.
The most efficient and easiest way to deal with a civil matter is for the parties to come to a private agreement/resolution. When this is not possible, a civil lawsuit is generally the next step. The Town of Greater Napanee cannot recommend when to take legal action nor does it or take complaints regarding potential civil matters/cases.
We encourage everyone to be a responsible neighbour and to speak to your neighbour first if you have an issue. As a final step, a written request for enforcement can be made to the Town and a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer will investigate.
When you make a complaint you will need to provide details of the infraction, as well as your name, address and phone number or email. Anonymous complaints are not permitted. Read our enforcement policy.
The fastest and most efficient way to report a concern to the Municipal Enforcement Team is online through our Report an Issue Tool. However if you are unable to access the internet or cannot fill out the form for some reason you can also attend the Town Administration Building to file a complaint in person.
You can contact our Municipal Enforcement Team using the information on the right hand side of the screen or by calling the Town at (613) 354-3351.
How do I check the status of my case?
You can check the status of your case at anytime using the link in the email sent to you upon case creation. The most up-to-date information and status can be found there.
How Enforcement Works
The Town of Greater Napanee employs Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and the By-Law Enforcement Unit to ensure that compliance with Municipal By-Laws are enforced and followed. More than that MLEOs help to:
Improve Community Safety Through Enforcement
Using proactive enforcement, education and MLEOs help to reduce risks to public safety and ensure the well-being of our community.
Increase Transparency and Trust
By maintain a fair and equitable approach to enforcement and compliance helps to build a foundation of trust amongst the public and our local government.
MLEOs are considered Peace Officers when acting in the course of their duties and work diligently to support the Town of Greater Napanee.
MLEO and By-Law Provincial Offences Officer: What do these terms mean?
All of these terms have been used interchangeably in the recent past to describe Peace Officers employed by a municipality to enforce the By-Laws of that municipality. Locally in Eastern Ontario, the common term to refer to these staff has been By-Law Enforcement Officer and Provincial Offenses Officer. In keeping with a shift across the province by municipalities to use a common name the Town of Greater Napanee is moving towards the single use of Municipal Law Enforcement Officer.
What are Municipal Law Enforcement Officers?
Municipalities in Ontario can hire law enforcement officers to enforce various provincial statutes as well as local by-laws. These officers and inspectors are afforded very broad investigative powers, which can surprise property owners who might otherwise assume that such officers have lesser rights than police officers. In fact, municipal law enforcement officers often have greater powers than the police in terms of access to private property.
Can a MLEO come onto my property?
The Municipal Act, 2001 permits municipalities to pass by-laws. These by-laws allow the municipality to enter onto your land at any reasonable time without a warrant for the purposes of investigating alleged by-law infractions or determining compliance with orders.
The province of Ontario states that powers related to by-law enforcement include:
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powers of entry for purposes of inspection to determine if a by-law is being complied with, and to search for and seize evidence with a warrant.
While police would generally need a warrant to enter your backyard looking for evidence, municipal by-law enforcement officers are permitted to bypass obstacles like fences, and peer through windows, and generally enter any exterior private property, without any judicial oversight or a warrant.
When can’t a MLEO come onto my property?
The major caveat to this broad right-of-entry power is that an officer shall not enter a room or place being used as a dwelling without your permission or a warrant.
So, in general, municipal by-law enforcement officers can access any part of your property without a warrant, except the inside of any building that is being used as a residential dwelling.
Source: Powers of Entry: www.get.on.ca/bylaw/entry
Contact Us
Municipal Law Enforcement
99-A Advance Avenue
Napanee, ON K7R 3Y5
Phone: (613) 354-3351
Email: bylaw@greaternapanee.com
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