East Zorra-Tavistock, Ontario
· adopted 1990-08-15
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Snapshot 16610ce79507 · verified 2026-06-09 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
THE CORPORATION OF THE
TOWNSHIP OF EAST ZORRA-TAVISTOCK
COUNTY OF OXFORD
BY-LAW # 49-90
As amended by By-law #2014-23
BEING a by-law to provide for maintaining land in a clean and clear condition.
WHEREAS Section 210 of the Municipal Act, R.S.O. 1980, Chapter. 302,
provides as follows:
210.
74.
For requiring and regulating the filling up, draining, cleaning,
clearing of any grounds, yard and vacant lots and the altering, relaying or
repairing of private drains.
76.
For prohibiting the throwing, placing or depositing of refuse or
debris on private property or on property of the municipality or any local
board thereof without authority from the owner or occupant of such
property.
129. For prohibiting, or regulating and inspecting the use of any land or
structures within the municipality or any defined area or areas thereof for
dumping or disposing of garbage, refuse, or domestic or industrial waste
of any kind.
a) A by-law under this paragraph:
i.
May establish a schedule of fees chargeable upon inspection
of such regulated land or structures;
ii.
May require the owners, lessees or occupants of such land or
structures, at the expense of owners, lessees or occupants, to
cease using such land or structures for such purposes, or to
cover over any garbage, refuse, or domestic or industrial waste
in any prescribed manner, whether or not such land or
structures were used before the passing of the by-law;
iii.
May define industrial or domestic waste.
By-law #49-90 The Clean Yard By-law - Consolidated Version
Page 2
130. For prohibiting or regulating and inspecting the use of any land or
structures for storing used motor vehicles for the purpose of wrecking or
dismantling them or salvaging parts thereof for sale or other disposal.
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Township of East Zorra-Tavistock ENACTS AS
FOLLOWS:
1. In this by-law
a) "By-Law Enforcement Officer" means the By-Law Enforcement Officer of the
Township of East Zorra-Tavistock or his representative;
b) "Township" means the Corporation of the Township of East Zorra-Tavistock;
c) "County" means the Corporation of the County of Oxford;
d) "Domestic Waste" means any article, thing, matter or any effluent belonging
to or associate with a house or household or concerning or relating to the
home or family that appears to be waste material; and for greater certainty but
not so as to restrict the generality of the foregoing terms of this clause, it is
hereby declared that domestic waste extends to the following classes of
waste material:
i.
Accumulations, deposits, leavings, litter, remains, rubbish, trash;
ii.
Refrigerators, freezers or other appliance, any attached hinges or
latching, locking or other closing mechanism or device;
iii.
Furnaces, furnace parts, pipes, fittings to pipes, water or fuel tanks.
e) "Owner" means an owner, lessee or occupant of property grounds or yard in
the Township of East Zorra-Tavistock;
f) "Waste Material" means material or effluent that, in the opinion of the By-Law
Enforcement Officer:
i.
Appears to have been cast aside or discarded or abandoned; or,
ii.
Appears to be worthless or useless or of no practical value; or,
iii.
Appears to be used up, in whole or in part, or expended or worn out
in whole or in part
g) "Yard, Front" (Front Yard) means that portion of a lot extending across the full
width of the lot between the front lot line and the nearest main front wall of
any building or structure of the lot;
By-law #49-90 The Clean Yard By-law - Consolidated Version
Page 3
h) "Yard, Rear" (Rear Yard) means that portion of a lot extending from the front
yard to the rear yard between the side lot line and the nearest main side wall
of any building or structure on the lot;
i) "Yard" is the land appurtenant to the property.
j) "Snow Fence" means any fence designed or intended to control the drifting of
snow and is typically comprised of thin upright slats wired together or a plastic
mesh type fence, both of which are typically held upright by posts. (Item j added
by By-law #2014-23)
2. (1) Every owner, lessee or occupant shall keep his grounds, yard, or vacant land
clean and cleared up.
(2) Every yard shall be kept clean and free from rubbish or other debris and from
objects including fences or condition that may create a health, fire or accident
hazard.
(3) Heavy undergrowth and noxious plants, including ragweed, poison ivy, poison
oak, and poison sumac shall be eliminated from every yard. Hedges shall be kept
trimmed and made to comply with any By-Law of the Township in effect from
time to time.
(4) For the purpose of this section, "clean or cleared up" includes the removal or
weeds or grass more than 20 centimeters (8 inches) in height.
(5) Every yard shall be kept free of Snow Fence except under the following
circumstances:
1. From November 15 - April 15 and in a location to control the drifting of
snow onto roadways, driveways, walkways and sidewalks;
2. For controlling access to construction projects, excavations and other
hazardous areas for a duration not to exceed 60 days;
3. Snow Fence erected by the Township Public Works Department. (Section
2.(5) added by By-law #2014-23)
3. (1) No person shall throw, place or deposit refuse or debris on private property
without the written authority of the owner or occupant of the property.
(2) No person shall throw, place or deposit refuse or debris on the Township
property or County property without the written authority of the Township or
County and where such property is occupied by a person other than the owner,
with the written authority of the occupant.
By-law #49-90 The Clean Yard By-law - Consolidated Version
Page 4
4. (1) Except as provided in Section 3, every owner, lessee or occupant shall keep
his land free and clear of all garbage, refuse, domestic waste, industrial waste
and waste material.
(2) No person shall use any land or structure within the Township for dumping or
disposing of garbage, refuse domestic waste, industrial waste, and waste
material.
(3) Subsections 1 and 2 do not apply to:
a) Land or structures used by the Township or the County used for the
purpose of dumping or disposing of garbage or refuse;
b) Land designated by By-Law of the Township or County for the
purpose of dumping or disposing of garbage or refuse.
5. No yard shall be used for the parking or storage of:
a) A motor vehicle which is not operative or which is no currently licensed
pursuant to the provisions of the Highway Traffic Act or amendments
thereto for the Province of Ontario, or
b) A motor vehicle which has had part or all of its superstructure or source of
motive power removed.
Notwithstanding the above, this section shall not apply to those properties
commonly known as automobile wrecking yards and which operate such
business under the provision of the applicable regulations of the Township of
East Zorra Tavistock.
6. (1) The By-Law Enforcement Officer, by notice sent by registered post served on
the owner, lessee, or occupant of the land or structure, may require an owner,
lessee or occupant within the time specified in the notice:
a) To clean, clear or remove from the land or structure garbage, refuse or
domestic or industrial waste of any kind;
b) To cease using the land or structure for the dumping or disposing of
garbage, refuse or domestic or industrial waste of any kind
(2) Every notice sent by the By-Law Enforcement Officer shall identify the land.
(3) Every notice to an owner or lessee shall be sent to the address shown on the
last revised assessment roll or to the last known address.
By-law #49-90 The Clean Yard By-law - Consolidated Version
Page 5
(4) Every notice sent to an occupant shall be to the address of the land or to the
last known address of the occupant.
7. (1) The By-Law Enforcement Officer may inspect the use of any land for the
purpose of determining whether:
a) The land is sued for dumping or disposing of garbage, refuse or domestic
or industrial waste of any kind;
b) The owner, lessee or occupant has complied with any notice sent by the
By-Law Enforcement Officer.
(2) Every owner, lessee or occupant shall permit the By-Law Enforcement Officer
to inspect the land for the purpose of subsection 1.
8. (1) Where any owner, lessee or occupant is in default of doing any matter or
thing required to be done under this By-Law, By-Law Enforcement Officer may:
a) Clean or clear up the grounds, yard or vacant land;
b) Remove refuse or debris; or,
c) Remove garbage, refuse or domestic or industrial waste.
(2) Where any matters or things re removed in accordance with subsection 1, the
matters or things may be immediately disposed of the By-Law Enforcement
Officer.
(3) The Township may recover the expense of doing a matter or thing referred to
in subsection 1 by action or in like manner as municipal taxes.
9. Every person who contravenes any provision of this By-Law is guilty of an
offence and liable to a fine upon conviction of not more than $2,000.00 exclusive
of costs.
10. The short title of this By-Law is "The Clear Yard By-Law".
READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 15TH DAY OF AUGUST 1990.
READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 15TH DAY OF AUGUST
1990.
By-law #49-90 The Clean Yard By-law - Consolidated Version
Page 6