(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie would like to remind residents of the importance of complying with the City's by-laws and the consequences of non-compliance.
By-laws are rules and regulations that are enforced by the City to maintain safety, order, and quality of life for residents. By-laws cover a wide range of areas such as, animal control, property maintenance, parking regulations, waste management, nuisance and sign enforcement.
“We really just want to encourage people to be good neighbours so we can ensure a high standard of living for all residents,” said Tammy Banting, Manager of Enforcement Services. “It’s important that all residents are aware of our by-laws and understand their obligations to comply with them—ignorance of by-laws is not an excuse for breaking the law.”
Some of the common by-law infractions that Barrie Enforcement staff respond to are:
- Animal control (dogs off leash or running at large)
- Yard maintenance (garbage and debris on property, lack of lawn cutting, inoperable vehicles outside the property).
- Parking (parking on or over the sidewalk or curb, parking on boulevards, parking within 1.5 m of a driveway, parking in posted school zones).
- Smoking (smoking in or around parks or sports fields, Rec Centres or other City facilities).
- Nuisance/Waste Management (illegal dumping or public property, improper disposal of waste).
The City has an enforcement team that monitors compliance with by-laws and takes action when necessary. This may include issuing warnings, fines, and even court proceedings in some cases. The team handles almost 60,000 enforcement matters annually.
Fines range from $30 to $1,000 and services fees range from $60 to $1,000, depending on the violation. Fines may be higher if the matter is brought before the Courts.
To learn more about the City’s By-laws, visit barrie.ca/bylaws. Residents who have questions or concerns about City by-laws are encouraged to contact Enforcement Services at (705) 739-4241.