Property maintenance — Stratford, Ontario

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

The City of Stratford, Ontario has 3 adopted bylaws on file: Fence and Hedge By-law 128-2003; Lot Maintenance By-law 94-2008; Property Standards By-law 141-2002 (Maintenance and Occupancy By-law), verified 2026-10-18.

Fence and Hedge By-law 128-2003 adopted bylaw
standards No fence contrary to By-law; no fence on public property without Council permission; no barbed/electrical fences except agricultural; no unsafe or view-obstructing fences. s. 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7
enforcement Chief Building Official may notify owner in writing to comply; if non-compliance/emergency, may cause fence removal at owner's expense, recoverable as municipal taxes. s. 4.1, 4.3
scout note

Regulates height, location, setback and construction/materials of fences and hedges on private property in the City, including pool-enclosure requirements.

Lot Maintenance By-law 94-2008 adopted bylaw
standards Refuse/waste on land; storing inoperative vehicles; improper waste/compost storage; non-compliant accessory structures; natural/landscaped areas not in good repair/free of weeds; unsafe trailer storage; turf grass/weeds over twenty centimetres (8 inches). s. 2.0
enforcement Officer may issue work order; if non-compliance, City may do work at person's expense and recover costs by legal action or tax roll. s. 5.0
scout note

Requires owners/occupants to cut grass/weeds and keep lots free of debris and long grass; sets remedial/enforcement powers for the City to clean up non-compliant lots and bill the owner.

Property Standards By-law 141-2002 (Maintenance and Occupancy By-law) adopted bylaw
standards Yards kept free from rubbish, garbage, brush, debris, vermin, dilapidated structures, hazards; no overgrown turf/weeds; no wrecked/unlicensed vehicles. s. 2.0(a)-(i)
enforcement If an order is not complied with, City may cause property to be repaired or demolished; amount spent is a lien on land. s. 3.4(a)
scout note

Establishes minimum standards for the maintenance and occupancy of property in the City — structural integrity, sanitation, pest control, utilities, and general habitability/exterior-condition requirements to address unsightly or dangerous premises.

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