Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

'Be good neighbours': City reminds residents to obey bylaws

'Ignorance of bylaws is not an excuse for breaking the law,' says Barrie enforcement official
BarrieToday Staff
030619-no parking-AdobeStock_137732698
Stock photo

NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF BARRIE
*************************
The City of Barrie would like to remind residents of the importance of complying with the city’s bylaws and the consequences of non-compliance.

Bylaws are rules and regulations that are enforced by the city to maintain safety, order, and quality of life for residents. Bylaws cover a wide range of areas such as animal control, property maintenance, parking regulations, waste management, nuisance and sign enforcement.

“We really just want to encourage people to be good neighbours so we can ensure a high standard of living for all residents,” said Tammy Banting, manager of enforcement services. “It’s important that all residents are aware of our bylaws and understand their obligations to comply with them — ignorance of bylaws is not an excuse for breaking the law.”

Some of the common bylaw infractions that Barrie enforcement staff respond to are:

  • Animal control (dogs off leash or running at large)
  • Yard maintenance (garbage and debris on property, lack of lawn cutting, inoperable vehicles outside the property)
  • Parking (parking on or over the sidewalk or curb, parking on boulevards, parking within one-and-a-half metres of a driveway, parking in posted school zones)
  • Smoking (smoking in or around parks or sports fields, rec centres or other city facilities)
  • Nuisance/waste management (illegal dumping or public property, improper disposal of waste)

The city has an enforcement team that monitors compliance with bylaws and takes action when necessary. This may include issuing warnings, fines, and even court proceedings in some cases. The team handles almost 60,000 enforcement matters annually.

Fines range from $30 to $1,000 and services fees range from $60 to $1,000, depending on the violation. Fines may be higher if the matter is brought before the courts.

To learn more about the city’s bylaws, visit barrie.ca/bylaws. Residents who have questions or concerns about city bylaws are encouraged to contact enforcement services at 705-739-4241.

*************************