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Property Maintenance and Standards

HomeHome and PropertyProperty Maintenance and Standards
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City Council passes property related by-laws on safety, maintenance, beautification and livability to set standards for all property owners to follow.

By-laws

Property by-laws
By-lawRegulatory area example

Adequate Heat By-law

Requires a minimum air temperature of at least 22 °C between September 1 to June 15 in rented or leased living accommodations

Boulevard By-law

  • hedges and trees overhanging the sidewalk
  • height of shrubs and plants

Find assistance for grass cutting and snow removal. 

Fence and Sight Triangle By-law

  • height of fences
  • height of natural features (hedges, shrubs and plants)

Lot Maintenance By-law

  • long grass and weeds
  • waste and debris
  • stagnant or standing water
  • graffiti

Property Standards By-law

  • plumbing and drainage
  • exterior and interior walls
  • heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
  • toilet and washroom facilities
  • handrails and guards
  • roof and roof structures
  • vacant buildings

Shopping Cart By-law

Complete the Shopping Cart Retrieval Request Form on-line or contact Service Oshawa.

Fee payments ($50/cart) must be received by the City and arrangements made by the retailer to retrieve the carts at least two weeks prior to cart disposition dates (January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1) unless otherwise advised.

Property Maintenance

  • Creek bank erosion 
  • Flooding 
  • Noise 
  • Trees
  • Weeds, Plants and Lawns

File a concern online

Property Standards for Designated Heritage Properties

City Council approved updates to the City's Property Standards By-law to establish additional minimum standards for maintenance and repair for Designated Heritage Properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 1990. The new standards include but are not limited to: 

  • General standards for heritage properties
  • Standards for the repair and/or replacement of heritage attributes 
  • Standards for vacant heritage properties
  • Standards for vacant properties that are not heritage properties

Report CORP-20-29 Property Standards By-law 1-2002 and Heritage Properties provides more information on these changes. 

Please visit the City's Heritage Property webpage for more details. 

Enforcement and Complaint Process

Please visit the By-law Enforcement page to find out more information about enforcement and how to file a complaint related to any of the above by-laws.

Property Standards Modernization

The City has completed its modernization review of the Property Standards By-law (“P.S.B.”). Public feedback was received through:

  • Connect Oshawa
  • City's online feedback tool
  • Advisory Committees
  • Community Groups and Organizations from the Building Industry
  • Property Standards By-law Working Group

CORP-21-55 Proposed Modernization of Property Standards By-law 1-2002 is a report staff prepared that presents the results of the Public and Industry Consultation, the Working Group Review, and the proposed amendments to modernize the P.S.B. The report and draft by-law was considered by the Corporate Services Committee at its November 8, 2021 meeting and was approved by City Council at its November 22, 2021 meeting.

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Contact Us

© 2022 City of Oshawa

Service Oshawa
1st Floor, West Wing, City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7

Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: [email protected]

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