By-law Enforcement

Municipal Code Chapter 700 – Business Licencing governs transportation network companies, or TNCs (commonly referred to as ride-sharing services) and taxicab companies within City limits. These regulations establish minimum standards, and are intended to help ensure passenger safety, and consumer protection. Regulations include: 

Municipal Code Chapter 834 - Clean and Clear prohibits the storing of waste on a property including:

Complaints must be submitted in writing to the Development Services and Engineering Department - Legislative, Building, Parking and Transit Services Division. Complaints may be submitted by email or in person at the Orillia City Centre, (1st floor), 50 Andrew St. S. Please note that the complainant remains anonymous.

Municipal Code Chapter 835 – Anti-Graffiti prohibits a person from placing graffiti on any property, and also requires an owner to remove any graffiti placed on their property. 

A person who breaches the Anti-Graffiti By-law can face a fine of up to $5,000. 

The by-law also provides the authority for City staff or its contractors to enter onto a private property to remove graffiti and recover the costs of doing the work in the same manner as property taxes. 

What is the purpose of an Anti-Graffiti By-law? 

Graffiti promotes a negative image to residents, visitors and businesses. An Anti-Graffiti By-law provides a tool to the municipality to have graffiti removed which helps improve the overall appearance of the City.  

Municipal Code Chapter 999 – Idling of Vehicles prohibits the idling of vehicles for more than three minutes, whether the vehicle is located on private or public property. Idling control initiatives have been identified as a way of improving local air quality.  A municipal idling control by-law is a concrete step that has been taken to help reduce negative impacts on the environment  

There are a number of situations where the idling restriction does not apply - including vehicles involved in an emergency activity. 

Municipal Code Chapter 667 - Vehicle - Motorized - Snow prohibits snowmobiles from being operated on any sidewalk, boulevard, park, prohibited trail or highway or on private property (without consent). Snowmobiles are also prohibited from operating between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.  On those streets where snowmobiles are permitted, they are only allowed for the purpose of travelling from the operator's residence to an approved trail or a lake and to return from such trail or lake to the operator's residence. The Motorized Snow Vehicles Act prohibits snowmobiles from operating at a greater rate of speed than 20 km/hr in a 50 km/hr zone. 

If you have any questions regarding snowmobiles, please contact By-law Enforcement at 705-325-2313. 

To report a complaint regarding snowmobiles, please contact the Ontario Provincial Police at 1-888-310-1122.

Municipal Code Chapter 832 - Signs sets out the requirements for signage in Orillia.  Most signs require a sign permit prior to being erected. 

Signs erected in the established Downtown Sign Permit Area (DSPA) are required to meet a higher set of standards than those outside the DSPA.  The reason for these higher standards is to help achieve a high quality and visually consistent downtown area and ultimately give our downtown a true competitive advantage over other municipalities. 

Municipal Code Chapter 658 - Obstruction - Encumbrance - Fouling - Loitering prohibits where snow can be deposited, among other items.

Is there a by-law prohibiting a person from dumping snow onto my property? 

No. This is considered a civil matter and you may wish to seek legal advice. 

Can I deposit snow or ice onto City property? 

Snow may be deposited onto the City-owned boulevard immediately adjacent to his or her lot. 

Residents are prohibited from depositing snow in the following locations: 

(a) on a roadway or sidewalk; 

(b) on a boulevard that is not adjacent to his or her lot, including but not limited to snow pushed or deposited across a street; 

(c) on a boulevard that obstructs the line of sight of a driver of a vehicle at an intersection; 

(d) on any City-owned or leased property located on a boulevard including signage, benches and garbage or recycling receptacles; 

(e) on, or immediately adjacent to, a fire hydrant or in any manner that obstructs access to a fire hydrant; 

(f) in such a manner so as to obstruct drainage to any City-owned drain or sewer; 

(g) on any other City-owned property including parkland. 

What size of tent is not permitted on a beach? 

Any tent that is greater than 1.5 metres (5 feet) in height, or occupies a space greater than 4.6 square metres (50 square feet) is not permitted on a beach. 

What size of tent is not permitted in a park (excluding a beach area)? 

Any tent that occupies a space greater than 9.3 square metres (100 square feet) is not permitted on parkland unless a permit has been issued.  

Are there restrictions on when I can erect a tent? 

Yes, a tent is not permitted anywhere in a park between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.