While it would be ideal if all individuals took full responsibility of their property and never littered, this is obviously not always the case. In these situations, by-laws can provide an effective incentive. But by-laws only work if they are enforced, and they are only enforced if there are reports or complaints. Report by-law offenses to the City of Thunder Bay Licensing & Enforcement Division at 625-2710. They will require an exact address of the location of concern, and the name and particulars of the complainant as anonymous complaints are NOT accepted. In most cases, the owner of the property will receive a letter indicating they are violating the by-law and are given a deadline to correct the situation. If these requirements aren’t met, they will receive a fine. You can also help by contacting your City Councillors to let them know you are concerned about litter in Thunder Bay.
City of Thunder Bay Yard Maintenance By-law (068-2008)
This By-law applies to all privately owned Land within Thunder Bay, whether that Land is occupied or not. Some paraphrasing has been done by EcoSuperior to improve legibility. For full details of the by-law, visit www.thunderbay.ca.
- 1.02 Definition
“Debris” includes refuse, waste, discarded materials or garbage of any kind whatsoever and includes, whether of value or not: accumulations of litter, remains, rubbish, trash; weighty or bulky items such as appliances, furnaces, furnace parts, pipes, pipe-fittings, water or fuel tanks placed in a condition or location where they cannot be used for their intended purposes; paper, cartons; dilapidated furniture; crockery, glass, cans, containers; garden refuse and trimmings; material from or for construction and demolition projects; domestic and industrial waste; dead or dying trees, branches, leaves or shrubs; inoperative motor vehicles; motor vehicle parts; mechanical equipment or equipment parts placed in a condition or location where they cannot be used for their intended purposes; earth or rock fill; clothing or other household linens lying in an unprotected condition; objects or conditions that may create a health, fire or accident hazard; and animal feces.
- 2.01 Yards to be Kept Free from Debris: It is an offence for an Owner or Occupant of Land to fail to keep the Yards clean and free from Debris.
- 2.04 Dumping and Littering: It is an offence for any person, without authorization from the Owner of the Land, to throw, place or deposit Debris on private or public Land.
- 2.06 Debris in Parking/Loading Yards: It is an offence for an Owner of Land to allow the accumulation of Debris in any area of a Yard which is used for vehicular traffic or parking, including any loading area.
- 2.08 Vacant Property – Dumping Prohibition: It is an offence for an Owner of Vacant Property to allow Land to be used for the dumping or disposal of Debris.
- 2.09 Requirement to Clear: It is an offence for an Owner to fail to remove any Debris dumped or disposed of on his or her Land contrary to Sections 2.08 or 2.04.
- 2.10 Non-Residential Properties – Litter: It is an offence for an Owner of Non-Residential Property to fail to keep that Land free of Debris as may be left by customers, employees, Occupants, or other members of the public.
- 2.02 & 2.03 Inoperative Motor Vehicles and Parts: It is an offence for an Owner or Occupant of Land to use the Land for the storage of Inoperative Motor Vehicles or parts of Motor Vehicles, unless:
(a) the storage is reasonably necessary for the conduct of a business or trade lawfully conducted on the property;
(b) the Motor Vehicle and/or parts are stored in an enclosed building; or
(c) the storage is of a single Motor Vehicle and/or single set of parts which is or are fully and completely covered with a canvas or similar opaque, weather-resistant tarpaulin in good repair.
- 2.39 Garbage Disposal – Nuisance Prevention: Where the Owner or Occupant of Land stores refuse out-of-doors, he or she must provide an effective container or barrier that prevents waste, wrappings, Debris, and the like from encroaching onto, or escaping onto, abutting or neighbouring Lands.
- 3.04 Litter involving Unsafe Containers: It is an offence for any person to discard an Unsafe Container on any Land, including Land owned by him-or herself, the Corporation, the Province or the Federal Governments.
- 7.03 Ultimate Responsibility of Owner: The Owner of Land is ultimately responsible for the condition of the Land, whether or not the Owner is also the Occupant.
- 7.08 Penalties: Every person who commits an offence pursuant to this By-law is liable, upon conviction, to the penalties prescribed by the Provincial Offences Act.
- 7.09 Municipal Action: Subject to Section 7.05, where a Final Notice has been sent or issued, and the requirements of the Final Notice have not been complied with, the Corporation may cause any work to be done which is necessary to bring the Lands into a condition which complies with the Final Notice. In such circumstances, the cost of the work shall be at the expense of the Owner, and constitutes a debt due to the Corporation.
Page last updated on Monday, April 05, 2010
