Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services
Corporate Services Department

NOTE: This site is under construction. More detailed information and links will be provided in the near future.

Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services is responsible for the investigation and enforcement of municipal by-laws and the administration of the City's Licensing By-law.

Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services is committed to the delivery of professional by-law enforcement and licensing services in a timely and effective manner and in accordance with council direction. Our mandate is to achieve compliance with city by-laws; through education, mediation and as necessary through enforcement and prosecution.

Our primary goals are

• Public safety
• Maintaining community standards which contribute to improving the quality of life in Oshawa and
• Managing behavioural and nuisance issues so as to promote a harmonious living environment in Oshawa.

Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services is comprised of the following operational areas:

• Enforcement of Laws Related to Private Property (Private Property and Boulevards) 
• Enforcement of Parking Standards
• Enforcement and Administration of Licensing
• Enforcement of Standards Related to Animals
• Licensing and Permits 
• Enforcement of Parks, Nuisance and Noise By-laws

NOTE: Municipal Law Enforcement and Licensing Services does not enforce the Building Code or the Fire Code. These are enforced by Oshawa Building Services and Fire Services respectively.

Private Property and Boulevard Enforcement

Private Property and Boulevard Enforcement involves by-laws primarily associated with land use (zoning), lot maintenance, property standards, boulevards, signs and noise. The enforcement of these by-laws supports orderly development, community standards and community image.
 

Parking Enforcement

Licensing Enforcement

Licensing Enforcement ensures that various classes of business are licenced and, more important, meet specific standards related to the operation of the business. This service protects the consumer and ensures fair business practices are followed. Licensing Enforcement focuses on various classes of businesses as well as taxis.

Animal Services

Animal Control is responsible for enforcing the City of Oshawa’s Responsible Pet Owner By-law and Dog Owners Liability Act. 

Animal Control also operates the City’s animal shelter and devotes considerable care and time to finding homes for lost or abandoned animals and to reunite lost animals with their owners.

Licensing & Permit Services

Licensing Services regulates businesses and lotteries for the purposes of public health and safety, consumer protection, fairness in business practices and the delivery of fair and equitable gaming and fundraising. 

• Licensing animals, businesses, taxis and lotteries
• Marriage licences
• The registration of births, deaths and the issuance of burial permits
• Regulating lotteries for the Province of Ontario through the AGCO to ensure fair and equitable gaming and fundraising for patrons and charities

• Pool Enclosures
• Two Unit House Registration
• Group Home Licensing
• Lodging House Licensing
• Residential Rental Housing Licensing

Special Enforcement Services (SEU)

Special Enforcement Services is an enforcement team specifically trained to investigate nuisance issues, parks and noise complaints, as well as other by-law matters. The Special Enforcement Unit patrols parks, bike paths, city streets as well as working with partners in other law enforcement agencies on special assignments and more community wide concerns.

By-law Complaints

By-law complaints may be registered by phone, e-mail, in person or in writing. Property Standards Complaints pertaining to rental unit infractions must be submitted in writing with confirmation that the landlord has been apprised of the concern prior to directing the matter to the City.

Complaints will be accepted only if the following information is provided:

• Complainant name, address and telephone number
• Complaint location (address)
• A satisfactory explanation of the complaint and details that would assist with an investigation
• A summary of when and where the problem/infraction is occuring
• If the complaint pertains to the condition of a rental unit, details confirming that the landlord has been recently advised about the problem and that it has not been corrected