Gravenhurst replaces their Community Standards By-law

Staff have been receiving calls which has resulted in notices to residents to comply with regulations

Gravenhurst replaced their Community Standards By-law, in the June 17, 2025, meeting.

In a report by the Town’s Director of Development Services, Melissa Halford, staff recommended that Council approve the replacement of the by-law to a new one called Clean and Clear Property Standards By-law.

According to the report, staff who are responsible for administering and enforcing property and community standards by-law have been receiving calls from the public about violations which have resulted in notices to property owners to comply with the Town’s regulations.

It adds, “The Clean and Clear By-law is a by-law intended to ensure property owners maintain their land in a clean, clear and safe condition and is intended to be used for minor property-related violations.”

Minor violations can include lawn maintenance, compost, structures and standing water.

Larger property maintenance and occupation issues are addressed in the Property Standards By-law, and relates to concerns such as interior and exterior maintenance, and can be applicable to tenanted, abandoned or damaged properties and naturalized gardens.

“It’s important to keep by-laws such as these up to date as legislation and the needs of the community change, and ensure they’re meeting Council’s desired outcomes,” indicates the report.

Last year changes to the by-law included No Mow May, exempting lawn cutting from May 1^st to the 31^st, with the Town designated as a “Bee City.”

Additional changes to the by-law include using the Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPS) as an enforcement measure for non-compliance, adding provisions for property maintenance inside and outside, and for graffiti and unsafe properties, and providing clearer definitions.

Councillor, Sandy Cairns, expressed it’s important to ensure that the new by-law doesn’t interfere with The Front Yard Garden Program initiated through the Daisy Awards. She said people have moved their backyard gardens to the front boulevards owned by the Town.

She said, “A lot of people have spent a lot of money. I know there’s some really beautiful houses on Sara Street that have really done a great job of bringing the boulevard gardens. It includes some weeds, but those weeds are good weeds. They’re not noxious weeds.”

Halford advised that the by-law doesn’t “change approach in that regard,” but rather explains what a naturalized garden/area is. This includes No Mow May and pollinator gardens.

Director of Infrastructure Services, Andrew Stacey, advised differently. He said, “Planting and using the Town’s property for beautification needs to be reviewed.” He added that staff plan on submitting a report for Council’s consideration in the near future.

Stacey explained, “While we don’t have concerns with necessarily plantings on the boulevard, we do have concerns with stuff like rocks, and ornaments that have been placed on the boulevard that if we ever end up in a place like we did this winter, bringing blowers in and stuff, those things become projectile.” He said their report will recommend what should and should not be permitted.

Councillor, Randy Jorgensen, suggested that they create a distinction in the by-law between urban and rural properties because the latter are more likely to have items like noxious weeds gravel, or building materials that aren’t permitted, however, they aren’t impacting people like they do in urban areas and “can’t comply” in some instances.

Halford emphasized that the Town goes by a “complaint-based system,” therefore, “concerns in an urban area are more likely.” She added that the by-law officers also use their discretion regarding the impact to surrounding properties.

Mayor, Heidi Lorenz, said her pet peeve is people parking cars on their lawn. “In Town it looks pretty awful if you ask me.” She also said it impacts the watershed.

She recommended that staff create a list of annual priorities such as this “to make our Town look good.”

Council members also expressed confusion about the difference between allowing naturalized gardens to support bee pollination versus enforcing safety measures for their nests, and other pests and vermin as indicated in the by-law.

CAO, Scott Lucas, spoke to the challenges of creating a full proof by-law, especially between urban and rural issues “unless we create zones.” He said, “The by-law won’t be perfect… It’s hard to set rules to an entire Town.”