Municipal Waste Collection on Private Roads Policy (2023) — full text

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 4a43796c5c2f · verified 2026-06-05 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 1 of 7 PURPOSE There are approximately 2000 private roads within the Municipality of the County of Victoria that are of various states of design and construction. Very often these roads are not designed with the delivery of municipal services in mind. Homeowners residing on private roads commonly request the Municipality to provide municipal services and/or maintain these roads. This policy shall establish the Municipality's position concerning the provision of municipal service and maintenance of private roads and establish minimum standards for access and to outline conditions that must be satisfied in order for waste collection vehicles to travel on private roads throughout the Municipality. 1.0 DEFINITIONS 1.1 "cleared road" means a private road that is clear from obstructions that may prevent access of a waste collection vehicle. Such obstructions may include, but are not limited to, snow, ice, potholes and tree limbs; 2.1 "Homeowner" means the property owner, or collection of property owners, that share a private road and are responsible for its maintenance; 3.1 "Municipality" means the Municipality of the County of Victoria; 4.1 "private road" means any street, road, lane, bridge or other thoroughfare accessible to motor vehicles that is not a municipal road or provincial highway. 5.1 "turning area" means an area on or with direct access to the private road that is configured so as to permit collection vehicles to turn around 180 degrees; 6.1 "waste collection vehicle" means any vehicle owned or contracted by the Municipality to collect waste; MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 2 of 7 POLICY 2.0 Ownership of Private Roads 2.1 The Municipality of the County of Victoria shall not assume ownership of a private road. 2.2 Municipal Council may only consider assuming ownership of a private road only if the road is designed and constructed to a public road standard, as outlined in the Municipality's Subdivision Bylaw. 2.3 The Municipality shall not provide nor fund road maintenance or road repairs on private roads. 3.0 Provision of Waste Collection Services 3.1 The Municipality may consider providing waste collection services on private roads if the conditions herein are satisfied. 4.0 Minimum Access Standards 4.1 In order for a waste collection vehicle to travel on a private road, it must be: 4.2 Identified with a sign that meets the requirements of the Municipality's Civic Addressing By-law, utilizing a name approved by the Civic Addressing Coordinator of the Municipality, that is visible from the municipal street or provincial highway; 4.3 A minimum of 3.6 metres (12 feet) wide at its narrowest point; 4.4 Finished with a surface treatment such as gravel, tar and chip, asphalt or concrete; and, 4.5 A cleared road, free of obstructions and maintained as necessary to permit safe passage of the waste collection vehicle. 4.6 A turning area must be provided at the expense of the Homeowner in a location and of a design approved by the Manager of Public Works or their designate. MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 3 of 7 4.7 Private roads with bridge or culvert structures, steep slopes, rail crossings, and overhanging structures will be evaluated for waste collection vehicle access on a case-by-case basis by the Manager of Public Works or their designate. 4.8 The Manager of Public Works or their designate reserve the right to refuse to permit waste collection vehicles to travel on a private road if minimum access standards are not satisfied. 5.0 Petition to Commence Service 5.1 The Private Road must have a minimum of 10 property owners requesting waste collection. 5.2 Prior to commencing waste collection on a private road, the Homeowner, or at least 80% of the property owners requiring waste collection on the private road, must complete and submit to the Municipality the questionnaire found in Appendix "A". 5.3 On an annual basis, the Homeowner shall provide the Municipality with the name and contact information of a representative that can be contacted if issues arise with waste collection on that private road, and any changes to number of properties on the private road. 6.0 Liability and Service Limitations 6.1 The Municipality will not be responsible for any damage to private property that may occur as a result of a Homeowner allowing waste collection vehicles on a private road. This includes damage to the road itself, due to soft or wet road conditions. 6.2 The Municipality reserves the right to discontinue private road waste collection service on a temporary or permanent basis at its discretion. 7.0 Next Steps 7.1 The Municipality will refer to the Procedure for Municipal Waste Collection on Private Roads. MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 4 of 7 APPENDIX A Representative / Contact: _____________________________________________________ Telephone #: _______________________________________________________________ Civic Address #: _____________________________________________________________ Private Road Name: __________________________________________________________ Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________ Owner of Private Road: _______________________________________________________ All property owners and addresses on Private Road: Property Owner Address MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 5 of 7 Does this private road belong to a "cottage association", "road association" or other similar arrangement? Yes No If "yes", please provide the name and contact information for the group representative: Name of Association: Name of Spokesperson: Telephone #: Please mark the appropriate box with an "x": Yes No Do you wish to allow waste collection vehicles to travel on your private road? Are you prepared to accept responsibility for damage to your private road/property that may unintentionally be caused by waste collection vehicles? Is this property utilized between October and May (during the fall and winter)? Is your private road identified by a sign that can be seen clearly from a public road? If there is no suitable "turning area" at the end of your private road, are you prepared to provide one? Do you agree to maintain the private road to a standard that will permit safe access, at the discretion of the waste collection vehicle operator, including snow and ice removal? Does your private road include any of the following? Low-hanging branches and trees A bridge or culvert crossing A railway crossing Steep slopes Travel under a structure, such as a bridge or archway MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 6 of 7 For Staff Use Only Date Questionnaire Received Name of staff member who took in questionnaire Follow-up Inspection Required? Yes No Staff sign-off if no inspection necessary: Date of Inspection Inspection Notes: Private Road Approved for Waste Collection Services? Yes No Date that applicant was notified of decision Staff sign-off post- inspection / notification MUNICIPAL WASTE COLLECTION ON PRIVATE ROADS POLICY Council Administrative Municipality of the County of Victoria Page 7 of 7 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Title Role Responsibilities Policy Editor Steff MacLeod Policy Owner Council Policy Approver Council Policy Administrator CAO Target Audience Residents REVIEW FREQUENCY Review Frequency Review Month Every 2 years January VERSION LOG Change Date Description Editor Approver Approval Date February 6, 2023 Approved at Council Steff MacLeod Council February 6, 2023