Grass and Weeds By-Law No. 78-2023

Prince Edward, Ontario · adopted 2023-04-25

This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document. Snapshot 2b9d8d42df22 · verified 2026-08-23 · original document · archived snapshot · unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.

Motion CW--69--2023 THE CORPORATION OF THE COUNTY OF PRINCE EDWARD BY-LAW NO. 78-2023 BEING A BY-LAW TO THE OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY TO MAINTAINGRASS AND TO SUPPORT FOR NATURALIZATION OF YARDS AND A BY- LAW TO REPEAL BY-LAW 699-2001 WHEREAS Section 8, 9 and 11 of the Mun/cipalAct, 2001, c. 25 as amended (the "Act") permits a municipality to pass by--lawsnecessary or desirable for municipal purposes, and in particular paragraphs 5, 6 and 8 of Subsection 11 (2), authorize by-laws respecting the economic, social and environment well--beingof the municipality, the health, safety and well- being of persons, and the protection of persons and property; AND WHEREAS Section 127 of the Act permit a municipality to pass by--lawsrequiring an owner or occupant of land to clean and clear the land, not including buildings, or to clear refuse or debris from the land, not including building; for regulating when and how such matters shall be done; for prohibiting the disposal of refuse or debris on land without the consent of the owner or occupant of the land; and to define refuse; AND WHEREAS section 435 and 436 of Act establishes the conditions under which an employee, officer or agent of the municipality may enter onto private property for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to determine whether a by-law is being complied with; AND WHEREAS sections 441 and 441.1 of Act state that a municipality can add unpaid fines to the tax roll of the property of the person who owes them; AND WHEREAS sections 444 and 445 of Act state that a municipality can order someone in contravention of a by--|awto discontinue the contravening activity or to order this person, a property owner or occupant, or someone who caused or permitted the contravening activity to correct the contravention; AND WHEREAS section 13 of the Noxious Weeds Act allows for an inspector who finds noxious weeds or weed seeds on land in the area within theirjurisdiction may order the person in possession of the land to destroy the noxious weeds or weed seeds. AND WHEREAS section 10 of the Noxious Weeds Act permits that single tier municipalities or a _ Motion CW-69-2023 AND WHEREAS Section 446 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 as amended states that Ifa municipality has the authority under this or any other Act or under a by--lawunder this or any other Act to direct or require a person to do a matter or thing, the municipality may also provide that, in default of it being done by the person directed or required to do it, the matter or thing shall be done at the person's expense. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184. AND WHEREAS Section 11 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 as amended, provides that Councils of municipalities may pass by--lawsrespecting property standards; AND WHEREAS on April 13, 2023 Committee approved motion CW--69--2023to support naturalization areas. NOW THEREFORE the Council of The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward enacts as follows: 1. Definitions. A. Director means The Director of Corporate and Legislative Services, or his or her designate. B. Lawn Area means ground, yards, or vacant lots, excluding areas utilized for active agricultural purposes and zoned agricultural property. C. Lot means a parcel of land in a Prince Edward County. D. Naturalized Areas are portions of a lot where the lawn of an owner or occupant has re- established a reproducing population of native North American species, through a combination of natural regeneration and deliberate plantings of native species not including Noxious Weeds. These exclude areas being utilized for agriculture. E. Officer means an employee of Prince Edward County whose duties include the enforcement of this by--|awor a member of the Ontario Provincial Police. F. Owner means the owner, occupant, person in charge of the premises. H. Person means an individual, association, firm, partnership, corporation, trust, organization, trustee, agent or legal representative of an individual. I. The County means The Corporation of the County of Prince Edward Motion CW-69-2023 L. Local Weeds means any of the species designated as Local Weeds by the County and included in Schedule A to this By-law. 2. Regulations: A. No Owner of private land shall have, or be permitted to have, or allow to grow, any noxious weeds designated under the Weed Control Act, R.R.O. 1990, Regulation 1096, and/or any designated Local Weeds by The County on their Lot; B. No Owner of a private Lot on which Turfgrass is grown shall permit Turfgrass or weeds to exceed 20 centimeters in height; C. Residents who wish to create Naturalized Areas not containing turfgrass or noxious weeds within their lot shall be exempt from Section 2B. Exemptions in this Section shall not relieve an Owner from responsibilities under Section 2A; D. No Owner shall allow vegetation or naturalized areas on private land to obstruct or encroach sidewalks or roadways; E. No Owner shall allow vegetation or naturalized areas on private land to restrict or encroach upon driver and pedestrian sight lines at intersections, driveways, sidewalks, walkways, or visibility to all traffic control devices; and 3. Entry to Inspect A. An Officer may enter onto a property to conduct an inspection where: 1. A complaint has been received about the property in question indicating the property is in contravention of By--Law78-2023; 2. An Order has been issued against the property owner, and a follow up inspection is required to ensure compliance with the Order or; 3. Reasonable grounds exist indicating a regulation under this by--|awhas not been met. B. For the purposes of an inspection under this By--law,an Officer may: 1. Require, for inspection, the production of documents or things relevant to the inspec?on; 2. Require information from any person concerning a matter related to the inspection; 3. Verify the presence or absence of noxious weeds; Motion CW-69-2023 4. No Obstructions A. No person shall obstruct, hinder or interfere in any way with any person designated to enforce this By--law. 5. Written Notice A. An officer who finds private land in contravention of this By--lawmay give a written Order to the Owner of the land requiring compliance with this By--lawwithin the time period specified in the Order but no sooner than 72 hours after the Order is given. B. An Order pursuant to this by--|awmay be served personally on the person to whom it is directed or by registered mail to the last known address of that person, in which case it shall be deemed to have been given on the third day after it is mailed. C. if the address of the Owner is unknown or The County is unable to effect service on the Owner under Subsection B, a placard stating the terms of the Order and placed in a conspicuous place upon the land shall be deemed to be sufficient notice. 6. Failure to comply; removal by The County; costs. A. Ifany Owner fails to carry out the requirements of an Order under this By--Law,the County may do or cause to be done the remedial action necessary to meet the requirements of the Order and add all costs to the tax roll to be collected in the same manner as property taxes. B. Any person who fails to comply with the standards set out in this By--law,may be charged an Administrative Penalty of $200.00 for a first offence and be subject to a penalty of $400.00 for any subsequent offences. Every Person who contravenes a provision of this by--law,including an Order issued under this By--lawis guilty of an o?ense. 7. Enforcement and Penalties A. The provisions of this By--lawshall be enforced by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer or other individual duly appointed by the County for the purposes of enforcing this By--law. B. Every person who contravenes a provision of this By--law,including an Order issued under this By--law,is guilty of an offence and is liable to such fines and penalties as are Motion CW--69-2023 8. Severability Ifany provision of this By--lawor the application thereof to any person shall to any extent be held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this By--lawor the application of such provision or requirement to all persons other than those to which it is held to be invalid or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and each provision and requirement of this By--lawshall be separately valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 9. THAT By-law 699-2001 a By--lawto the owners or occupants of private property to cut grass and weeds on their lands and remove the cuttings be hereby repealed in its entirety. 10.THAT this By-law shall come into force and take effect on the date of its passing. Read a first, second, and third time and finally passed this 25th day of April, 2023 Ste e Ferguson, MAYOR -Catalina Blum erg, CLERK Motion CW--69--2023 Schedule A Prohibited Local Weeds and Invasive Plants: The following plants are deemed by Prince Edward County to be noxious plants for the purposes of this By--Law: 1. Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) 2. Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) 3. Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica var. japonica) 4. Phragmites (Phragmites australis subsp. australis)