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By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 1 of 9
The Corporation of the Township of North Frontenac
By-law #-2026-14
Being a By-law to Regulate Animals in the Township of North Frontenac and
Repeal By-law #68-22, as amended
Whereas Section 8 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended ("the Act")
provides that powers of a municipality under this or any other Act shall be interpreted
broadly so as to confer broad authority on municipalities to enable them to govern their
affairs as they consider appropriate, and to enhance their ability to respond to municipal
issues;
And Whereas Section 11 (1) of the Act provides that a municipality may provide any
service or thing that the municipality considers necessary or desirable for the public;
And Whereas Section 11 (2) of the Act provides that a municipality may pass by-laws
respecting: Economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality; Health,
safety and well-being of persons; Protection of persons and property;
Whereas Section 11 (3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended,
provides a municipality may pass by-laws respecting Animals;
And Whereas Section 103 of the Municipal Act provides that if a municipality passes a
by-law with respect to the being at large or trespassing of animals, it may provide for the
seizure and impounding of animals being at large or trespassing and the sale of
impounded animals;
And Whereas Section 128 provides that, without limiting Sections 9, 10, and 11, a local
municipality may prohibit and regulate with respect to public nuisances, including
matters that, in the opinion of Council, are or could become or cause public nuisances;
and in the opinion of Council under this section, if arrived at in good faith, is not subject
to review by any court;
And Whereas Section 425 of the Act establishes that any person who contravenes any
by-law of the municipality is guilty of an offence;
And Whereas Section 444 of the Act provides that a municipality may make an order
requiring a person who contravened a By-law or who caused or permitted the
contravention or the owner or occupier of the land on which the contravention occurred
to discontinue the contravening activity;
And Whereas Section 446 (3) of the Act provides that the municipality may recover the
costs of doing a matter or thing under subsection (1) from the person directed or
required to do it by action or by adding the costs to the tax roll and collecting them in the
same manner as property taxes;
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 2 of 9
Now Therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Township of North Frontenac
enacts as follows:
1. Short Title
This by-law shall be known as the Animal Control By-law.
2. Definitions
For the purpose of this By-law:
"Agricultural Use" means the use of land, building(s) or structure(s) for Animal
husbandry including the raising, boarding, and keeping of all forms of livestock, and all
related activities such as breeding, training, feeding, manure storage and grazing.
"Animal" means any member of the Animal kingdom other than a human, excluding cats
and rabbits.
"Backyard Chickens" means female chickens kept on a residential property.
"By-law Enforcement Officer" means a person appointed as a By-law Enforcement
Officer for the Township of North Frontenac.
"Dog" means a domesticated canine Animal of the species canis familiarus, male or
female.
"Impound" means the Animal is taken into custody and transported. In the case of
dogs, they are held in accordance with the Agreement between the Township and the
service provider contracted by the Township for that purpose.
"Kennel" means a premise, building or structure where dogs, cats or other similar
domestic Animals are kept, and intended for commercial purposes such as breeding,
boarding, training or sale. Dogs kept as household pets, for livestock herding (where
Agricultural Uses are permitted), and for hunting and working service Dogs/police Dogs
shall not be classed as a Kennel.
"Livestock" means any domestic fowl (including hens, geese, ducks, turkeys, guinea
fowl, etc.) horse, donkey, mule, bull, ox, cow or other cattle, goat, swine, sheep, llama,
mink, fox, emu or ostrich or similar Animal.
"Owner" means any person who possess or harbours an animal; and where the owner
is a minor, the person responsible for the custody of the minor; and includes a person
who is temporarily the keeper or in control of the animal and "owns" has the same
meaning.
"Person" means includes an owner, individual, partnership, association, firm or
Corporation, business entity or club, or any other incorporated or unincorporated group
or organization.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 3 of 9
"Public Nuisance" means an act which unreasonably interferes with the health, property
or comfort of the public or obstructs the public in the exercise or enjoyment of rights
common to all.
"Running at Large" means an Animal that is in a place other than the property owned or,
occupied by the Owner, where the Animal is not restrained or controlled by means of a
leash, bridle, halter, rope or other physical restraint.
"Township" means The Corporation of the Township of North Frontenac.
3. General Restrictions
a) No Person shall permit an Animal to become a public nuisance.
b) An Animal shall be considered a public nuisance in the following circumstances:
i) It makes noise that is likely to annoy or disturb an ordinary person;
ii) It causes damage to public or private property;
iii) It interferes with or dumps or scatters garbage;
iv) It chases, threatens, or interferes with persons using public or private
property in the area where the Animal is harboured;
v) It swims at a public beach;
vi) It is in a public park and not restrained or controlled by means of a leash,
bridle, halter, rope or other physical restraint;
vii) When running at large, is likely to obstruct the free flow of traffic or is likely to
interfere with the ability to provide emergency services.
c) No Person shall allow an Animal on any Township public beach.
d) No Person shall leave any excrement left by their Animal on any property, other than
the property of the Owner or other property by permission. The excrement shall be
removed immediately and disposed of in a sanitary manner.
4. Prohibited Animals
a) No Person shall possess or display in public the following prohibited animals:
Reptiles:
- Crocodilians (such as alligators, crocodiles, Gavials)
- All snakes which reach an adult length greater than three (3) metres
- All lizards which reach an adult length greater than two (2) metres
Other:
- All venomous and poisonous animals (includes but is not limited to
snakes, frogs, lizards or insects)
b) No Person shall keep an Animal that is prohibited by or under any Federal or
Provincial legislation.
c) Sections 4a) and 4b) do not apply to the following:
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 4 of 9
i.
A licensed establishment designed to handle the otherwise prohibited
Animals, reptiles or insects;
ii.
A recognized zoo;
iii.
A person who is a licensed herpetologist or person working under their
direction.
iv.
Honey bee keepers and apiaries.
5. Animals Running at Large
a) No Person shall permit an animal to run at large.
b) All Animals shall be restrained or controlled by means of a leash, bridle, halter, rope
or other physical restraint and be under the control of a Person when the Animal is
on any land in the Township other than land owned by the Owner, unless prior
consent is given by the Person owning the land on which the Animal is found.
c) Any Animal which is found, with or without a tag in the case of a Dog, Running at
Large in contravention of this By-law may be seized and impounded by the By-law
Enforcement Officer. The Owner of the animal shall be responsible for the payment
of any fines and fees incurred.
d) The Owner of the livestock shall be responsible to provide fencing and other
measures to prevent Livestock from Running at Large.
e) If Livestock is found to be Running at Large, the Owner of the livestock shall be
liable for all damages caused and for the expenses, if any, incurred by the Township
to respond to the incident.
f) The Township shall make reasonable efforts to determine the identity of the Owner
of the Livestock and to inform the Owner within a reasonable time. All reasonable
efforts would be made to contain the Animal(s).
g) If a Dog seized and impounded bares a tag issued by the Township, the By-law
Enforcement Officer shall search the register kept for that purpose and notify the
registered Owner(s) of the dog within a reasonable time frame. The sections of the
By-law which have been contravened will be provided to the registered Owner(s) of
the Dog and the Officer shall indicate the location of the pound.
h) In the case of a Dog seized and impounded and claimed within five clear days, the
Dog shall be released to the Owner(s) of the Dog upon the payment of the costs for
the Pound Fee to seize and deliver the Dog to the Pound Operator. The Owner(s) of
the Dog is responsible for all fees payable to the Pound Operator, including
administrative costs, boarding and veterinary services upon the Owner(s) of the Dog
claiming such Animal in accordance with the Pound Operator's contract. Any Dog
not claimed within the five clear days will be dealt with in accordance with the
Agreement between the Township and the Pound Operator.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 5 of 9
i) Any Animal found Running at Large in contravention of this By-law that is gravely
injured or that is exhibiting the characteristics of viciousness to such an extent that
the By-law Enforcement Officer attending the Animal fears for their own health and
safety, or the health and safety of others in the vicinity, may be destroyed at the
Officer's discretion.
6. Backyard Chickens
a) On residential properties, hens may be kept and housed in an enclosed, roofed coop
or structure in accordance with this By-law and based on the following:
Lot Size
Number of Hens
Permitted
Maximum Coop
Area
Maximum Coop
Height
0.2 hectares to 1.2
hectares
Maximum six (6)
Hens
Maximum 3 metre
square
Maximum 4.5
metres
Over 1.2 hectares
to 4 hectares
Maximum twelve
(12) Hens
Maximum 10
square metres
Maximum 4.5
metres
Over 4 hectares
Maximum twenty-
five (25) Hens
Maximum 15
square metres
Maximum 4.5
metres
b) Hen coops must be constructed to fully enclose a hen to prevent it from escaping; to
prevent other Animals from entering the hen coop; and with lockable roofs and
doors.
c) No Person shall keep a rooster.
d) No person shall allow Hens to be outside an enclosed/fenced hen run when not in
their coop.
e) Hen coops and runs shall be located a minimum distance of 7 metres from the rear
and interior side lot lines and are not permitted in any exterior side yard or front yard.
f) Hen coops and runs shall be maintained in a clean condition and kept free from
obnoxious odours, substances and vermin; and be designed to ensure proper
ventilation and sufficient space for the hens.
g) Stored manure shall be kept in an enclosed structure, such as a compost bin.
h) No hens, hen runs/yards or coops shall be located within 30 metres of any water
body.
i) No person shall have more than one hen coop on a property.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 6 of 9
7. Licensing of Dogs
a) Every dog within North Frontenac owned by a permanent or seasonal resident must
be licenced with the Township of North Frontenac.
b) Every Owner of a Dog that has reached the age of 6 months shall make application
to licence the Dog with the Township within 30 days of acquisition of the Dog, or the
dog attaining 6 months, whichever event occurs first. Licences are available annually
or for the lifetime of the Dog.
c) A licence fee as set out in the Township's Fees and Charges By-law shall be
included with the application. All licence fees are non-refundable.
d) Upon licencing, the Owner of the Dog shall be furnished with a Dog tag which shall
be kept securely fixed on the Dog at all times until the tag is renewed or replaced.
e) The annual licence of the Dog expires on December 31st of every calendar year. A
Lifetime Dog Tag is no longer valid upon the passing of the licenced dog or a
change of ownership of the licenced dog.
f) The annual licence of a Dog shall be purchased by March 31st in each year. After
March 31st, the cost of the annual licence shall increase.
g) Each Dog tag shall have a serial number and the year in which it was issued, in the
case of the annual Dog tags. A record shall be kept by the Treasury Department for
the purpose of showing the name and address of the Owner and the serial number
of the tag.
h) No tag shall be transferred to or displayed on any Dog other than the Dog for which
it was issued.
i) An Owner of a Dog may obtain a replacement for a tag that has been lost or
destroyed by paying the prescribed fee as set out in the Township's Fees and
Charges By-law.
8. Kennels
a) No person shall operate a Kennel in the Township for commercial purposes such as
breeding, boarding, training or sale unless such operation is licenced with the
Township.
b) The Owner of a Kennel shall pay an annual licence fee as set out in the Township's
Fees and Charges By-law. As well as a licence fee, in the case of Dogs, for all
individual Dogs at the Kennel during the year.
c) The annual licence expires on December 31st of every calendar year.
d) The annual licence fee for a Kennel shall be purchased by March 31st in each year.
After March 31st, the cost of the annual licence shall increase.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 7 of 9
e) The Kennel shall be in compliance with this By-law and all other applicable
legislation and Township By-laws.
f) A Kennel is permitted on a property with the following Zoning designations per the
Zoning By-law:
- Rural
- Limited Service Rural
- Residential Waterfront
- Limited Services Waterfront
- General Commercial
- Rural Co-operative
g) The Owner of the Kennel shall provide the following to obtain a Kennel licence:
i.
A complete application in the form provided by the Township;
ii.
An accurate plan of the property showing:
- The location of the buildings, structures, septic system and well in
relation to the property lines;
- The location of runs, waste containment, training areas and any other
facilities to be used for Kennel purposes in relation to the property
lines;
- The distance between buildings and their existing uses situated on the
adjacent properties.
g) Where permitted, a Kennel shall be subject to the following provisions:
- The minimum lot size for a kennel shall be 0.8 hectares.
- No part of any kennel shall be located less than 70 metres from an abutting
or neighbouring lot occupied by a sensitive land use or a lot Zoned for
residential use. The measurement shall be taken as the shortest horizontal
distance between the kennel and the nearest lot line of the sensitive land
use or the lot Zoned for a residential use;
- No part of any kennel shall be located within 30 metres of any lot line;
- No part of any kennel shall be located within a front yard or exterior side
yard;
- Provisions of the Zone in the lot in which the Kennel is located shall apply
for lot coverage;
- The maximum height for a kennel shall be 6 metres
- No part of any kennel shall be located within 100 metres of the high water
mark of water body; and
- Site Plan Control shall apply.
9. Enforcement
a) The By-law Enforcement Officer shall enforce this By-law and keep records of all
calls and Animals seized and impounded.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 8 of 9
b) The By-law Enforcement Officer is hereby authorized, in the course of their duties of
seizing and Impounding Animals Running at Large contrary to this By-law, to use
such reasonable means at their disposal to seize and impound such Animals as may
be required by the circumstances.
c) If the By-law Enforcement Officer is satisfied a contravention of this By-law has
occurred, the Officer may make an order requiring the person who contravened the
By-law or who caused or permitted the contravention or the Owner or Occupier of
the land on the which the contravention occurred to discontinue the contravention,
d) An order under this section shall identify:
i.
The location where the contravention occurred;
ii.
The reasonable particulars of the contravention; and
iii.
The date and time by which there must be compliance with the order.
e) If a person fails to do a matter or thing, including comply with an order under this
By-law, as directed or required by the By-law, the Township may, in default of it
being done by the person directed or required to do it, do the mater or thing at the
person's expense. All costs incurred by the Township may be recovered from the
owner and/or Licence holder by action or placed on the tax roll for the property
where the contravention occurred and collected in the same manner as municipal
property taxes.
10. Offences
a) Any person who contravenes any provision of this By-law is guilty of an offence and
upon conviction is liable to payment of a fine or other penalty as provided by the
Provincial Offences Act.
b) If this By-law is contravened and a conviction is entered, the court in which the
conviction was entered or any Court of competent jurisdiction may, in addition to any
other remedy and to any other penalty that is imposed, make an order prohibiting the
continuation or repetition of the offence by the person convicted.
11. Application
a) Any section, subsection or part thereof of this By-law be declared by any Court of
Law to be illegal or ultra vires, such section or subsection or part thereof shall be
severable and all parts hereof are declared to be separate and independent.
b) This By-law shall come into force and take effect immediately upon the date of
passing.
c) By-law #68-22, as amended is hereby repealed.
By-law #2026-14
Animal Control By-law
Page 9 of 9
Read a first and second time February 27, 2026.
Read a third time and finally passed this February 27, 2026.
___________________________________
Gerry Lichty, Mayor
_____________________________
Tara Mieske, Clerk