Chatham-Kent staff hope to save a lot of time and effort by removing yard complaints from their property standards bylaw.
Yard standards will now be enforced with its own bylaw to get properties cleaned up quicker. The full property standards bylaw often requires the province, and possibly the courts, to get involved. This process can last months, meaning yards don't get cleared for long periods of time.
Chief Building Official Paul Lacina says yard complaints come to their office most often, and before this new bylaw, it would take months to take care of clean up and fines.
"By removing yards from the property standards bylaw, it gives us more control on how we enforce it," he says. "So instead of taking three months for residents to comply, we can get it cleaned up in a week."
The fine for repeat property standards offenders has also been changed from $500 to $250. This also allows staff to dish out the fine without going through the province.
