Property maintenance — St. Thomas, Ontario

What are the rules on junk, derelict cars, and unsightly property?

The City of St. Thomas, Ontario has 3 adopted bylaws on file: By-law 109-2022 - Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw; By-law 92-2022 - Lot Maintenance By-law Amendment; Property Standards By-law 80-2019, verified 2026-10-18.

By-law 109-2022 - Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw adopted bylaw
standards Herbaceous plants over 45 cm, impairing drainage, with vegetables/grains, or hindering sidewalks; trees/shrubs; dangerous/protruding items, sightline/snow/hydrant obstructions, height/distance violations; turf grass/weeds over 15 cm; damaging/constructing without permission. s. 3.1; s. 3.3; s. 4.1; s. 4.2; s. 5.1
enforcement Written order to discontinue contravening activity and/or correct it; if owner fails to comply, officer may cause work to be done at owner's expense, add costs to tax roll, and add administrative fee. s. 6.2; s. 6.4; Schedule "A"
scout note

Requires abutting property owners to maintain the municipal road boulevard adjacent to their property (grass cutting, obstruction/debris removal).

By-law 92-2022 - Lot Maintenance By-law Amendment adopted bylaw
standards Weeds/grass/ground cover >15 cm; garbage/waste/construction waste; derelict/inoperable vehicles or parts; unmaintained natural gardens; natural gardens encroaching on adjacent property; nuisance feeding of wildlife. s. 3.1(a)-(c); s. 3.2(d); s. 5.1(a)-(b)
enforcement Officer may issue written order to discontinue contravention or do corrective work; if order contravened, City may do work at owner's expense and add costs to tax roll. s. 6.1, 6.3
scout note

Amends the City's lot-maintenance standards bylaw governing long grass/weeds, debris and unsightly conditions on vacant and occupied lots.

Property Standards By-law 80-2019 adopted bylaw
standards No person shall occupy property with conditions posing undue or unreasonable hazard or risk to life, limb or health; no ruinous/dilapidated structures. s. 1.4; s. 1.6
enforcement Officer may make and serve an Order of the Property Standards Officer; costs of further inspections, reports, notifications or registrations payable by Owner. s. 11.4.1; s. 11.4.5
scout note

Sets minimum property-maintenance standards for buildings and land in St. Thomas (unsightly/dangerous premises, structural upkeep), enforced via the City's Property Standards Committee.

Machine-readable: property-maintenance.json · Official website: https://www.stthomas.ca/ · Last verified 2026-10-18 · Property maintenance across Ontario · Property maintenance in other municipalities