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The proposed Community Standards Bylaw is a bylaw that encompasses many existing bylaws within Parkland County:

    Public Protection Bylaw, 22-79
    Assembly Bylaw, 12-85;
    Nuisance and Unsightly Bylaw, 15-94;
    Litter Bylaw, 3-95;
    Noise Bylaw, 40-95; and
    Municipal Address Bylaw, 4-96.

The purpose of the proposed Community Standards bylaw is to create a clear, concise set of expectations for residents and property owners in Parkland County. Through the amalgamation of the former bylaws, residents and ratepayers can quickly and easily get an understanding of the major property bylaw requirements in Parkland County.

It is expected that the new Community Standards bylaw will make compliance easier to obtain and provide administration with an additional tool with which to enforce the Municipal Government Act as it relates to nuisance and unsightly premises.

Community Standards Bylaw Highlights

Click here to review the entire proposed bylaw.

Unsightly Properties

• Prohibits the accumulation of material that creates an unpleasant odour or animal parts.
• Exempts agriculture practices and landfills
• Prohibits open storage of industrial fluids
• Prohibits the accumulation of certain items that is visible from outside the property.
• Prohibits the storage of appliances unless closing devices have been removed, not visible from outside the property or it is locked at all times
• Outlines how building materials can be stored and for how long.

Graffiti Prevention and Abatement

• Applying graffiti is an offence
• The owner or occupant of the property is responsible for its removal/clean up
• Reverse onus placed on the owner of the property to prove consent was given for the graffiti to be made

Regulating Composting

• Prohibitions on what can be placed in a compost pile or container, where the pile can be placed, and a requirement for it to be maintained as to prevent odours and attracting animals.

Regulating Noise

• Prohibition of noise from a motor vehicle that disturbs or annoys
• Prohibition of noise from a property that disturbs or annoys
• Outlines maximum continuous sound levels in residential districts
• Outlines maximum non-continuous sound levels in residential districts
• Outlines what activities are prohibited during night time hours
• Prohibits idling trucks for longer than 20 minutes in or with 150 meters of a Residential District
• Outlines maximum continuous sound levels in non-residential districts
• Outlines maximum non-continuous sound levels in non-residential districts
• Exempts agricultural practices
• Allows for a temporary permit allowing noise levels in violation of the bylaw
• Outlines the permit application/process
• Requires a Major Event in the County to obtain a permit
• Outlines the permit process/appeal process
• Sets out exemptions to this part
• Outlines the process to appoint testers to test the sound monitoring equipment and the process for ensuring proper testing practices

Nuisances Escaping Property

• Prohibits an outdoor light from shining into an adjacent dwelling house
• Allows the light if it is shielded or if it is specified in a Development Permit
• Prohibits the height of grass any longer than 25 cm
• Allows for some exemptions

Maintenance of Buildings, Structures and Fences

• Obligation to maintain structures and fences

Excavations

• Prohibits excavations from becoming or remaining a danger to public safety

Addressing

• Requires the number assigned to a property to be displayed at all times in a location visible from the roadway
• Outlines the signage requirements

Littering

• Prohibits the disposal of refuse on public lands/highway
• Prohibits the transport of refuse unless properly secured from falling or blowing off
• Allows for the Registered owner of a vehicle to be charged
• Prohibits the disposal of refuse on private land without permission

Many offences will be enforced first though educating the property owner/representative of the infraction, giving them an opportunity to rectify the problem. If the problem is not rectified in the time allotted, then a clean up order will be issued and/or a fine. Every situation will be judged on a case-by-case basis and proceed as the officer sees fit.