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Page 1 of 11
Chapter 0771
December 11, 2025
Property Maintenance
Chapter 0771 - Property - Lot - Maintenance
Chapter Index
Article 1 - Short Title
771.1.1
Citation
Article 2 - Interpretation
771.2.1
City - defined
771.2.2
County - defined
771.2.3
Clean or cleared up - defined
771.2.4
Domestic waste - defined
771.2.5
Industrial waste - defined
771.2.6
Inoperative motor vehicle - defined
771.2.7
Inoperative vessel - defined
771.2.8
Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer - defined
771.2.9
Owner - defined
771.2.10
Property - defined
771.2.11
Stagnant water - defined
771.2.12
Refuse - defined
771.2.13
Yard - defined
Article 3 - General Provisions
771.3.1
Property - maintained - clean - clear
771.3.2
Yard - free of debris - hazardous conditions
771.3.3
Grass and weed growth - height restriction
771.3.4
Noxious plants - eliminated
771.3.5
Vegetative growth - trimmed
771.3.6
Land - clear of waste
771.3.7
Property kept free - stagnant water
771.3.8
Owner - to permit inspection
771.3.9
Expenses - recovery - by City
Article 4 - Dumping - Disposal - Prohibited
771.4.1
Dumping - private Property - without authority
771.4.2
Dumping - public Property - without authority
771.4.3
Land - structures - within City
771.4.4
City - County - lands - structures - exempted
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771.4.5
Dumping - land - structures - within City
Article 5 - Exemptions
771.5.1
City - County - land - structures - exempted
771.5.2
Land - designated by by-law - exempted
771.5.3
Automobile wrecking yards - licensed - exemption
771.5.4
Naturalization program - exempted
Article 6 - Notice
771.6.1
Land - cleaned - cleared - waste removal
771.6.2
Cease dumping - disposing
771.6.3
Cease dumping - land - identified
771.6.4
To owner - lessee - address - last assessment roll
771.6.5
To occupant - last known address
Article 7 - Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer - Authority
771.7.1
Inspect - determine - compliance with by-law
771.7.2
Inspect - determine - compliance - notice
771.7.3
Owner - in default - action
771.7.4
Matters - things - removal - disposal
Article 8 - Enforcement
771.8.1
Fine - for contravention
771.8.2
Hinderance - obstruction
Article 9 - Severability
771.9.1
Severability clause
Article 10 - Repeal - enactment
771.10.1
Repeal
771.10.2
Effective date
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Chapter 0771
December 11, 2025
THE COPRPORATION OF THE CITY OF WOODSTOCK
BY-LAW NUMBER 2025-9794-25
A By-law to provide for the maintaining of land in a clean and clear
condition and to repeal By-law No. 9794-25
WHEREAS pursuant to section 9 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O. 2001,
chapter 25 a municipality has the capacity, rights, powers and privileges of a
natural person for the purpose of exercising its authority under this or any
other Act;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 8(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O.
2001, chapter 25 the powers of a municipality under this or any other Act
shall be interpreted broadly so as to confer broad authority on a municipality
to enable a municipality to govern its affairs as it considers appropriate to
enhance a municipality's ability to respond to municipal issues;
AND WHEREAS pursuant to section 11 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O.
2001, chapter 25 an upper-tier municipality may pass by-laws respecting the
health, safety and well-being of persons;
AND WHEREAS section 127 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, chapter
25, provides that a local municipality may require the 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 buildings and to regulate when and how
matters required under clause shall be done, prohibit the depositing of
refuse or debris on land without the consent of the owner or occupant of the
land;
AND WHEREAS section 131 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, chapter
25, provides that a local municipality may prohibit and regulate the use of
any land for the storage of used motor vehicles for the purpose of wrecking
or dismantling them or salvaging parts from them for the sale or other
disposition;
AND WHEREAS sections 425, 426 and 429 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O.
2001, chapter 25, states a municipality may pass By-laws providing that a
person who contravenes a By-law of a municipality passed under this Act is
guilty of an offence, no person shall hinder or obstruct, or attempt to hinder
or obstruct, any person who is exercising a power or performing a duty
under this Act or under a By-law passed under Clean Yards By-law 2011-54
as amended Office Consolidation- revised September 29, 2013 and a
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municipality may establish a system of fines for offences under a By-law of a
municipality passed under this Act;
AND WHEREAS section 436 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O. 2001, chapter
25, provides that a municipality has the power to pass By-laws authorizing
the power of entry for the purpose of inspecting land to determine
compliance with a By-law, direction, order, or condition of a license;
AND WHEREAS section 435, 437 and 438 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O.
2001, chapter 25, set out additional powers and restrictions in regard to the
power of entry;
AND WHEREAS sections 445 and 446 of the Municipal Act, 2001 S.O. 2001,
chapter 25 provides that a municipality may order a person to correct a
contravention of a By-law, that in default of a matter or thing being done by
a person directed or required to do it, the matter or thing shall be done at
the person's expense, a municipality may enter upon land at any reasonable
time to do such matter or thing, and a municipality may recover the costs of
doing a matter or thing 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;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of The City of Woodstock hereby enacts the
following:
Article 1 - Short Title
771.1.1
Citation
The short title of this Chapter is the "Property Maintenance By-law."
Article 2 - Interpretation
771.2.1
City - defined
"City" means The Corporation of the City of Woodstock.
771.2.2
County - defined
"County" means the County of Oxford.
771.2.3
Clean or cleared up - defined
"Clean or Cleared Up" means the Property is free from Domestic Waste,
Industrial Waste, Refuse, weeds or grass more than 20 centimeters in
height or other objects or conditions that create an unsightly or unsafe
condition.
771.2.4
Inoperative Motor Vehicle - defined
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December 11, 2025
"Inoperative Motor Vehicle" means a motor vehicle having missing parts or
which is deteriorated, damaged or unusable in the manner in which it was
originally designed or which does not have a currently valid license plate
issued by the Ministry of Transportation.
771.2.5
Inoperative Vessel - defined
"Inoperative Vessel" means as vessel that has been designed primarily for
the purposes of navigation in, on, or through water that is not cable of
being used for the purposes it was intended.
771.2.6
Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer - defined
"Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer" means the Municipal By-law
Enforcement Officer of the City or his/her representative.
771.2.7
Occupant - defined
"Occupant" means any person in possession of the Property but shall not
include a natural person who has not attained the age of 18 years;
771.2.8
Owner - defined
"Owner" means an owner, owner in trust, a mortgagee in possession, the
Person for the time being, managing or receiving the rent of the land or
premises in connection with which it is used on his own account, or as agent
or trustee of any other Person, or who would receive the rent if the land and
premises were let, and shall also include a lessee or Occupant of the
property who, under the terms of a lease, is required to repair and maintain
the property in accordance with the Standards for the maintenance and
occupancy of property.
771.2.9
Property - defined
"Property" means grounds, Yard or vacant lands
771.2.10
Stagnant water - defined
"Stagnant Water" means water that is void of movement either by natural
or artificial means and includes water that is collected but not completely
enclosed within sealed container.
771.2.11
Refuse - defined
"Refuse" means material or effluent which appears to have been cast aside,
discarded, abandoned, worthless, unless, of no practical value, used up,
expended or worn out in whole or in part and without limiting the generality
of the foregoing shall include the following:
i)
industrial waste material and effluent;
ii)
domestic waste material and effluent;
iii)
Inoperative Motor Vehicles or vehicle parts;
iv)
Inoperative Vessels or parts thereof;
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December 11, 2025
v)
garbage, refuse or debris;
vi)
domestic items stored outdoors and subject to deterioration
from the elements;
vii)
refrigerators, freezers or other appliances, any attached
hinges or latching, locking or other closing mechanisms or
devices;
viii)
Stagnant Water;
ix)
agriculture waste or by products;
x)
mineral, metal or chemical by products;
xi)
rubble or inert fill;
xii)
salvage material;
xiii)
accumulations, deposits, leavings, litter, garbage, refuse,
debris remains, rubbish, trash;
xiv)
furnaces, furnace parts, pipes, fittings to pipes, water or
fuel tanks;
xv)
piping, tubing, conduits, cable, fittings or other accessories
xvi)
scrap construction material resulting from or related to
construction or demolition projects; and
xvii) bones, feather or hides.
771.2.12
Yard - defined
"Yard" means the land appurtenant to any building or structure.
Article 3 - General Provisions
771.3.1
Property - maintained - clean - clear
Every Owner and Occupant shall keep their Property Clean or Cleared Up.
771.3.2
Property - free of hazardous conditions
Every Owner Occupant shall keep their Property clean and free from objects or
conditions that may create a health, safety or fire hazard.
771.3.3
Grass and weed growth - height restriction
No Owner or occupant shall permit grass or weed growth on their Property,
or the property between their lateral property lines and the travelled
portion of the roadway, to exceed a height of 20 centimeters.
771.3.4
Noxious plants - eliminated
Every Owner or Occupant shall keep their Property clear of heavy undergrowth
and noxious plants, including ragweed, poison ivy, poison oak and poison
sumac.
771.3.5
Vegetative growth - trimmed
Every Owner or Occupant shall keep vegetative growth trimmed in order to
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Chapter 0771
December 11, 2025
prevent the vegetative growth from encroaching on a roadway, pedestrian
pathway, sidewalk, public property, driveway or access to any building or
blocking sight lines or visibility on a roadway, pedestrian pathway,
sidewalk, public property or driveway.
771.3.6
Land - clear of waste
No Owner or Occupant of any Property shall permit the accumulation of
Refuse on their Property.
771.3.7
Property kept free - stagnant water
No Owner or Occupant shall permit Stagnant Water on their Property.
771.3.8
Owner - to permit inspection
Every Owner or Occupant shall permit the Municipal By-law Enforcement
Officer to inspect their Property for the purpose of determining
compliance with this By-law.
Article 4 - Dumping - Disposal - Prohibited
771.4.1
Dumping - private property
No person shall throw, place or deposit Refuse on private Property.
771.4.2
Dumping - public property - without authority
No person shall throw, place or deposit Refuse on City Property or County
Property except material that has been placed out for waste collection
purposes, in accordance with City of Woodstock Municipal Code Chapter
0731.
771.4.3
Dumping - land - structures - within City
No person shall use any land or structure within the City for dumping or
disposing of Refuse.
Article 5 - Exemptions
771.5.1
City - County - land - structures - exempted
Sections 771.3.1, 771.3.6 and 771.4.3 do not apply to land or structures
used by the City or the County used for the purpose of dumping or
disposing of garbage or refuse.
771.5.2
Land - designated by by-law - exempted
Sections 771.3.1, 771.3.6 and 771.4.3 do not apply to land designated by
by-law of the City or County for the purpose of dumping or disposing of
garbage or refuse.
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771.5.3
Automobile wrecking yards - licensed - exempted
Section 771.3.6 and Section 771.4.3 shall not apply to Inoperative
Motor Vehicles or Inoperative Vessels stored on Property commonly
known as automobile wrecking yards or towing company impound yards
that hold a current license to operate such business on that Property in the
City.
771.5.4
Naturalization program - exempted
Any public Property undergoing a naturalization program or any privately
owned Property undergoing a naturalization program are hereby exempt
from the requirements listed in Section 771.3.3, where approval of the
naturalization plan has been granted in writing by the City of Woodstock
Parks and Recreation Department.
Article 6 - Notice
771.6.1
Land - cleaned - cleared - waste removal
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may, by notice served personally,
by email or by regular or registered mail sent to the Owner or Occupant of
the Property, require an Owner or Occupant within the time specified in the
notice to clean, clear or remove Refuse from the Property, or comply with
any other contravention of this by-law and keep the Property Clean or Clear
Up and free of any other contravention of this By-law for the remainder of
the calendar year. The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer shall not be
required to provide the Owner or Occupant of the Property with more than
one notice under this section in any given calendar year.
771.6.2
Cease dumping - disposing
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may, by notice served personally
by email or by regular or registered mail sent to the Owner or Occupant of
the Property, require an Owner or Occupant within the time specified in the
notice and for the remainder of the calendar year to cease using the
Property for the dumping or disposing of garbage, or Refuse of any kind. The
Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer shall not be required to provide the
Owner or Occupant of the Property with more than one notice under this
section in any given calendar year.
771.6.3
Cease dumping - other Property
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may, by notice served
personally, by email or by regular or registered mail sent to the address of
a person who contravenes article 4 of this By-law, requiring the person to
cease such contravention.
771.6.4
Cease dumping - land - identified
Every notice sent or personally served by the Municipal By-law Enforcement
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Chapter 0771
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Officer shall identify the Property where the By-law contravention has
occurred.
771.6.5
To owner - address - last assessment roll
Every notice to an Owner that is not personally served shall be sent to the
address shown on the last revised assessment roll or to the last known
address.
771.6.6
To occupant - last known address
Every notice that is not personally served on an Occupant shall be sent to the
address of the Property or to the last known address of the Occupant.
771.6.7
To other person - last known address
Every notice that is not personally served on a person that has contravened
this By-law and who is neither an Occupant or Owner shall be sent to the
last known address of that person.
Article 7 - Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officer - Authority
771.7.1
Inspect - determine - compliance with by-law
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may inspect any Property for the
purpose of determining whether the Property is in compliance with this By-
law.
771.7.2
Inspect - determine - compliance - notice
The Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer may inspect any Property for the
purpose of determining whether the Owner or Occupant has complied with
any notice sent by the Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer.
771.7.3
Owner - in default - action
Where any Owner or Occupant is in default of doing any matter or thing
required to be done under this Chapter, the City may:
a)
Clean or Clear Up the Property;
b)
remove Refuse;
c)
remove grass or weed growth in excess of 20 centimeters in
height;
d)
remove any noxious plants;
e)
remove any stagnant water;
f)
remove any hazardous condition in contravention of section
771.3.2;
g)
trim any vegetative growth in contravention of section 771.3.5;
h)
remedy any other contravention of this by-law.
771.7.4
Matters - things - removal - disposal
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Where any matters or things are removed in accordance with Section
771.7.3, the matters or things may be immediately disposed of by the
Municipal By-law Enforcement Officer.
771.7.5
Expenses - recovery - by City
The City may recover the costs plus applicable interest of doing a matter or
thing referred to in Section 771.7.3 by action or by adding the costs plus
applicable interest to the tax roll and collecting them in the same manner
as property taxes.
771.7.6
Lien - by City
The City may register a notice of lien against the Property for the amount
of the costs of doing a matter or thing referred to in Section 771.7.3 plus
accrued interest.
771.7.7
Interest on Costs - by City
The costs incurred of doing a matter or thing referred to in Section 771.7.3
shall bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum commencing on the day the
City incurs the costs and ending on the day the costs, including the
interest, are paid in full and shall be collectable in accordance with Section
771.7.5. and 771.7.6.
Article 8 - Enforcement
771.8.1
Fine - for contravention
Every person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Chapter is
guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine or penalty as
provided in the Provincial Offences Act. An officer or director of a
corporation who knowingly concurs in the contravention of any provision of
this Chapter is guilty of an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine or
penalty as provided in the Provincial Offences Act.
771.8.2
Hinderance - obstruction
No person shall hinder or obstruct or attempt to hinder or obstruct an
Officer while exercising a power or authority under this By- law.
Article 9 - Severability
232.9.1
Severability Clause
If a Court of Competent Jurisdiction declares any section of this By-law
invalid, the remainder of this By-law shall continue to remain in force and
effect unless the Court makes an order to the contrary.
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Article 10 - Repeal and Enactment
232.10.1
Repeal
By-law 9794-25 of the Corporation of the City of Woodstock and all
amendments thereto are hereby repealed.
232.10.2
Effective Date
This Chapter shall come into force and take effect as of the third and final
reading of the enabling By-law. By-law 9794-25, December 11, 2025.