Property maintenance — Thunder Bay, Ontario

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

In the City of Thunder Bay, Ontario, property maintenance rules are set by Boulevard Garden and Maintenance By-law No. 8-2025 and 6 other bylaws, verified 2026-10-18. Enforcement: Officer may order corrective work; City may remediate and recover costs from owner, including by tax roll.

Boulevard Garden and Maintenance By-law No. 8-2025 adopted bylaw
standards Owners must keep boulevards clean and free of waste/nuisance litter; turf/grass must not exceed 200 mm; Boulevard Gardens must not contain prohibited plants, hazards, or encroachments. s. 2.1, s. 2.2, s. 4.7, s. 4.8, s. 5.1(n)
enforcement Officer may order corrective work; City may remediate and recover costs from owner, including by tax roll. s. 8.1, s. 13.1
scout note

Governs residents' gardening and maintenance obligations on the municipal boulevard (right-of-way strip) fronting their property.

Clean and Clear Yards By-law, BL 93-2022 adopted bylaw
standards Land must be clean and clear of waste material; no nuisance litter, littering/dumping, turfgrass over 20 cm, prohibited plants, obstructive growth, inoperative vehicle storage, hazards, or recurrent pooling. s. 4.1; s. 4.6; s. 5.1; s. 6.1; s. 7.1; s. 8.1; s. 9.1-9.3
enforcement Officer may order corrective/stop work; City may do work at person's expense and recover costs by action or tax roll/lien. s. 10.1; s. 11.1; s. 13.1; s. 17.1-17.3
scout note

Requires yards to be kept free of refuse, junk, derelict/inoperable vehicles, and prohibited plants (Schedule A); companion to the property-standards bylaw.

Fence By-law adopted bylaw
standards Fences not in accordance with by-law; barbed wire in residential zones; razor wire; electrified fences unless land lawfully used for agricultural purposes. Section 14; Section 17; Section 18; Section 29
enforcement Contravention is an offence; liable to fine or penalty under Provincial Offences Act. Section 30
scout note

Regulates height, location, and construction of fences on private property.

Graffiti By-law adopted bylaw
standards No person shall place, cause, or permit Graffiti on Property; Owners must keep Property and walls, fences, or structures in/on highways or Public Spaces free of Graffiti. Graffiti Prohibited (a)-(c)
enforcement An Officer may give verbal or written notice to comply; if the Owner fails, the City may enter and do the work, and costs may be recovered by action or added to the tax roll. Verbal Notice to Comply (b); Written Notice to Comply (c); Cost of Removal of Graffiti
scout note

Requires property owners to remove graffiti from their property; part of the city's property-maintenance regime.

Minimum Heat By-law, BL 94-2022 adopted bylaw
standards Rented dwelling units must have Adequate and Suitable Heat at Owner's expense, maintained at no less than 21 C; space heaters prohibited except temporary electric. s. 3(a), s. 3(f), s. 8
enforcement Officer may issue Order to correct contravention; if not done, City may do work at Owner's expense; unpaid costs within 30 days added to tax roll. s. 6(1), s. 9(a)-(b)
scout note

Sets minimum indoor heating-temperature standards for rental/residential units, enforced as part of property standards.

Municipal Standards for Property By-law, BL 95-2022 adopted bylaw
standards No person, being the owner or occupant of a property, shall fail to repair and maintain the property in conformity with the standards set out in this By-law. s. 4(a)
enforcement An Officer (Property Standards) may issue a Defect Notice under section 58 of the By-law or an Order under section 15.2 of the Building Code Act. s. 61(c)
scout note

Sets minimum property-standards requirements for the exterior and interior maintenance of buildings and land; used to address unsightly/dangerous premises complaints.

Vacant Building Security By-law, BL 96-2022 adopted bylaw
standards Owners must secure vacant/unoccupied buildings against unauthorized entry by persons, birds, rodents, vermin and prevent Unsafe Conditions or Hazards. s. 4
enforcement Officer may order securing/registration; City may secure in default at Owner's expense and add costs to tax roll. s. 11(h), s. 15(a)
scout note

Requires owners of vacant buildings to secure and maintain them to prevent unsafe/unsightly conditions.

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