Lake of Bays is proposing to modernize and separate the Township’s clean yards provisions from the property standards bylaw in order to improve clarity, compliance, and enforcement efficiency.
During the March 10 meeting, Andrew Stillar, bylaw enforcement officer with the township, presented a staff report proposing the changes.
“It just makes it clear for the public as to what to go to the bylaw department and what to go to the building department about because the property standard bylaw is enforced generally by (the) building (department) and clean yards by (the) bylaw (department),” he said.
Stillar told council that the property standards bylaw has remained a single consolidated bylaw since it was last updated in 2018, adding that it has created overlap, contributed to confusion for property owners, and posed challenges for staff when determining and applying the most appropriate enforcement process.
The report proposes to introduce a clean yards bylaw to address the accumulation of garbage, refuse, domestic and industrial waste, inoperative vehicles, and other nuisances that may negatively impact public health, safety, and the natural environment.
It also proposes to adopt the new property standards bylaw, which removes all outdoor yard-related provisions now governed under the clean yards bylaw and incorporates new requirements needed to support the sewage system maintenance inspection program.
In addition, the report proposes the implementation of a new sewage system maintenance inspection program policy, outlining the roles and responsibilities of property owners, the Township, and qualified third-party inspectors.
The policy establishes the inspection process, hazard designation criteria, and enforcement framework to ensure sewage systems are maintained in compliance with the Ontario Building Code.
According to Stillar, a similar policy previously existed, but the Township was unable to maintain the required inspection cycle due to insufficient staffing resources at the time.
The report states the newly proposed policy will require one additional building official to carry out inspections, hazard assessments, orders and follow-up compliance activities. The position, which was previously approved by council, was officially filled on Feb. 23.
The report states that, if approved, implementation could begin in the summer of 2026. However, after a lengthy discussion, council decided to delay the decision due to confusion among members.
Council directed staff to clarify and update the report and bring it to council at a later meeting.
