Town of Penetanguishene

Municipal Law Enforcement
(By-law Enforcement)

The Clerk’s Department includes By-law Enforcement services Municipal Law Enforcement consists of one full time Municipal Law Enforcement Officer. The Supervisor of Municipal Law Enforcement is the Town Clerk.

The goal of Municipal Law Enforcement (MLEO) is to achieve compliance through information, education and voluntary compliance. If this is not achievable then the MLEO takes appropriate action such as the laying of charges under the provisions of the Town By-laws Enforcement action may also include direct enforcement where the Town may remove or resolve a non compliance at the property owner’s expense.

MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURE MANUAL

Municipal Law Enforcement ensures the proper and consistent enforcement and compliance with the Town’s regulatory by-laws including but not limited to:

Animal, Cats and Pigeon Control By-laws, including contract supervision;
Business Licensing By-law;
Civic Addressing By-law;
Clean Yards By-law;
Consolidated Traffic & Parking By-law, including disabled parking enforcement and towing;
Fire-related By-laws, including Open Air Burning By-law, Fireworks, Fire Routes;
Firearms Discharge By-law;
Hours of Operation & Code of Conduct for Town Parks and Public Recreation Facilities;
Noise By-law;
Noxious Weeds By-law and Weed Inspector duties under the Weed Control Act;
Signs and Other Advertising Device By-law, including issuance of permits as applicable;
Parks Regulation By-law;
Pool Fence By-law;
Use of Sidewalks in Central Commercial District By-law;
Water Regulation By-law, including water restrictions;
Zoning By-law;
All other municipal regulatory and licensing by-laws as may be enacted from time to time.

The Clerk’s Department provides both proactive and reactive levels of by-law enforcement services to the residents of the Town of Penetanguishene.

Reactive Enforcement

Primarily, reactive enforcement entails responding to written complaints as they are submitted by members of the public and/or staff and Council.

All by-law complaints from the public, staff and members of Council shall be made in writing by the complainant on the prescribed form. The complaint form is a standardized form that must be complete and contain particulars of the alleged breach, and be signed by the complainant. These complaint forms are also available by mail or can be picked up and filled in at the office.

Complaints are required in writing in order to alleviate frivolous complaints where one neighbor is feuding with another. The requiring of a signature protects the Town from being accused of discriminating against a citizen. Personal information including the complainant’s name shall be kept confidential, however, if the matter goes to court, the complainant could be called to testify and give evidence to substantiate the Town’s position.

Proactive Enforcement

Proactive enforcement involves your own initiative for issues involving the health and safety of the residents and visitors of the Town of Penetanguishene as well as by-law contraventions that are deemed detrimental to the overall image of the Town.

Animal Control

The Town of Penetanguishene currently has a contract for animal control services with Huronia Animal Control who has provided this service to the Town on a contractual basis for 33 years.

Contact:
Townhall Phone:         705-549-7453
Fax:                              705-549-3473

Municipal Law Enforcement Officer     extension 220     Email