Town of Richmond Hill - By-Law Section - Animal Control, Licensing, Enforcement & Parking Control

MunicipalWorld - Town of Richmond Hill Municipal Code

Home > Town Hall > Departments > Planning & Regulatory Services Department > Regulatory Services Division	Print this page
By-Law Section - Animal Control, Licensing, Enforcement & Parking Control

Regulatory Services Division Home

By-Law Section
The Enforcement Sections are responsible for investigating by-law and licensing violation complaints (zoning and property standards), inspections related to sign permits and sign complaints, licensing, parking enforcement and weed control. The following is a list of some of the most frequently requested by-laws:

By-law	Chapter [PDF]	Description
Animal Control By-laws	304, 306, 309, 310, 314, 319, 321	Regulates the care of domestic animals, dog licensing, as well as the number and types of animals permitted per household
Anti-Graffiti By-law	950	Provides for the removal of graffiti from all property and sets the fines for non compliance
Driveway Apron By-law	Engineering & Public Works Standards & Specifications Manual	Regulates the maximum width of the portion of driveway on municipal property (boulevard) See the Front Yard Parking By-law for the maximum widths of driveways on private property.
Dumping & Fill By-law	967	Provides for the dumping or placing of fill in all areas of the Town
Fence/Pool Enclosures By-law	973	Regulates the maximum heights of fences and their locations. It also provides for the mandatory pool enclosure and the types of fencing that are permitted.
Fire Setting By-law	1037	Regulates open air fires on all lands within the Town See the Open Air Burning By-law for open air fires that require a permit from the Town's Chief Fire Official.
Fireworks By-law	1041	Regulates the sale and use of fireworks
Light Pollution By-law	1050	Regulates outdoor lighting in the Town of Richmond Hill
Long Grass & Weed By-law	1025	Regulates the maximum length of grass and weeds on all properties in the Town to 8 inches ( 20 cm) between May 1 and October 15 of each year
Noise By-law	1055	Provides for the times that certain noises are permitted
Obstruction of Highway By-law	801	Regulates the dumping or placing of anything on the highway (includes the boulevard and unpaved portions of the highway)
Open Air Burning By-law	868	Prohibits open air burning within the boundaries of Richmond Hill, unless permission has been obtained from the Town's Chief Fire Official See the Fire Setting By-law for regulations pertaining to open air fires on all lands within the Town.
Property Standards By-law	1010	Minimum standards for maintenance and occupancy.
Sign By-law	52-09	Regulates the size, location and number of signs that are permitted on any property, business as well as special events
Tree Preservation By-law (Private Property)	1015	Prohibits and regulates the injuring and destruction of trees (with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or more, measured 1.4 metres above the ground) on private property in the Town of Richmond Hill
Tree Planting By-law (Town-owned Property)	821	Prohibits and regulates the injuring and destruction of trees on Town property.
Water-Use - Lawn Watering Restrictions By-law	1000	Restricts outdoor water use to certain hours during the period June 15 to September 30 each year

Licensing By-laws	Chapter [PDF]	Description
Licensing By-laws	826 - 882	Certain businesses operating in the Town are required to be licensed, including adult entertainment businesses (adult video stores, body rub parlours, etc.), billiard halls, bowling alleys, limousines, newspaper boxes, taxi cabs, tobacco sales, etc.
Second Hand Goods By-law (applies to Garage Sales etc.)	879	Provides for and regulates second hand goods purchasing and sales establishments. Provides for the required registering of all purchases and sales and sets the period before selling after the purchase of the goods
Refreshment Vehicles	875	Regulates the sale of refreshments (food and beverages) from a vehicle within the Town
Tobacco Sales	826	Regulates the sale of all tobacco products in the Town

Parking By-laws	Chapter [PDF]	Description
Fire Route	1090	Provides for the designation of fire routes and enforcement of parking in fire routes in the Town
Parking - Disabled	1106	Provides for and regulates disabled parking, the size of the parking space, placement of the signs, permits and the enforcement for violations of the by-law
Parking - Regulation (Parking Control)	1116	Regulates on-street parking in the Town, as well as some provisions for parking on private property.

Zoning By-laws	Chapter [PDF]	Description
General Zoning By-laws	Planning & Development Department - Building Services Division	Zoning By-laws set the permitted uses on all properties in the municipality for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and other properties. They also set out the set back requirements for structures, widths of driveways, business uses, home occupations, etc.
Basement Apartment By-law	Planning & Development Department - Building Services Division	Prohibits any basement apartment established after November 16, 1995
Front Yard Parking By-law	Planning & Development Department - Building Services Division	Provides for the maximum widths of driveways on private property. A minimum of 45 per cent of front yard must be landscaped while meeting the minimum provisions See the Driveway Apron By-law for regulations on the maximum width of the portion of driveway on municipal property (boulevard).

Other Legislation	Agency	Description
Pesticides Act	Province of Ontario	Bans the use of certain pesticides used for cosmetic purposes This legislation is enforced by the Ministry of the Environment. For more information, visit, www.ontario.ca/pesticideban or call 1-800-565-4923.
Smoke-Free Ontario Act	Region of York	The Smoke-Free Ontario Act has requirements for all enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces to be 100% smoke-free. The Act also regulates the sale of tobacco products throughout Ontario. The York Region Tobacco Education and Control Team perform education and enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. For more information, or to make a complaint, please contact York Region Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 \| TTY: 1-866-252-993 or visit www.york.ca.

Specific By-law Information
Copies of specific by-laws can be accessed via the Municipal Code on the Municipal World Website.

Animal Control Services
The Licensing Enforcement Section is responsible for overseeing the provision of Animal Control Services in the Town. This responsibility includes the provision of all labour, equipment, machinery, materials and facilities which may be necessary for the performance of these services.

Presently, Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) York Region Branch is contracted by the Town for enforcing the provisions of the Town's Animal Control By-law, as well as ensuring that all owners of dogs have licensed their dogs. They also enforce the poop and scoop provisions, dogs running at large and animal trespassing regulations of the by-law. For more information visit the OSPCA website or call (905) 898-7122, ext. 319 or 1-888-668-7722.

Licensing Section Processes
The Licensing Section issues business licenses and enforces the licensing requirements for the Town including those pertaining to taxi cabs, limousines, refreshment vehicles and all of the drivers of those vehicles, as well as adult entertainment establishments, such as adult video stores and body rub parlours, among others. Other businesses that are licensed in the Town are Billiard Halls, Bowling Alleys, Ice Cream Carts, Amusement Arcades, establishments that sell tobacco and Second Hand Goods.

How to Obtain a Lottery License

Click for more information on the Town's Character Community initiative