Your Local Government

By-Law Enforcement

Who to Contact

Contacting the OPP

FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE, DIAL 9-1-1

You can also reach the OPP by calling 1 888 310-1122 (toll-free in Ontario). The Provincial Communications Centres operate 24/7, answering non-emergency calls for service.

Many less serious incidents can be reported online

Contacting the By-Law Department

The By-Law Department can be reached by calling 519-534-1400 Ext 123. Please understand that we do not have 24/7 enforcement services – we may not call you back until the next regular business day.

The By-Law Enforcement Officer enforces the majority of the Town of South Bruce Peninsula by-laws. By-Laws are local regulations passed by Council under Provincial legislation such as the Municipal Act, Building Code Act and Planning Act.

Make a By-law Complaint

What Should You Expect When You Make a Complaint

Typically, phone calls and emails from residents inform us of concerns or nuisances. When we receive a complaint, we assess the situation and information received to determine if there is a by-law violation.

In most cases, the By-Law Enforcement Officer takes an “education first” approach to compliance. This means that we advise the violator about the provisions in the particular by-law and seek voluntary compliance. Education and communication are how we begin.

After making a complaint, due to privacy legislation, please do not expect that you will be given any information with regard to any ongoing investigation. Privacy breaches are taken seriously by the Province’s Information and Privacy Commissioner and by the Town. We are not able to tell you if charges are being or have been laid, what has been said to individuals involved in an investigation, what is contained in our notes or on file regarding any investigation or any other type of information which could be considered a breach of privacy.

What the Town Will Not Investigate

The Town will not investigate nor become involved in matters such as:

  • property line locations or disputes
  • land ownership disputes
  • snow removal or snow storage on private property
  • security cameras on private property
  • trees on private property
  • matters that are “civil” in nature, meaning that they are between property owners
  • matters where another agency is involved or investigating
  • matters where there is pending or ongoing litigation
  • matters where a solicitor or paralegal have been involved
  • matters which can be referred to another agency (ie. landlord/tenant disputes)
  • matters where there is no Town by-law to address the matter
  • anonymous complaints

It is possible that complaints cannot or will not be investigated. Staff will inform you if your concerns are able to be investigated.

Property Standards Complaints

Property standards complaints must be made in writing and must be signed by the person making the complaint. Please refer to our Property Standards page for more information.

Common Enforcement Topics

Call 1-800-890-9352 for 24/7 nuisance issues related to cottage rentals in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. Please call when the nuisance is occurring.

Nuisance issues include noise and occupancy related to people renting short term. More information on the STRA program can be found on the Town’s website Short Term Accommodation – South Bruce Peninsula

You will be required to pay for parking at Sauble Beach anywhere that Paid Parking is identified – please watch for signage.

A designated motorcycle parking area has been established between First Street North and Paisley Lane along Lakeshore Blvd N.

Please be sure to park within the designated and marked spaces.

Paid Parking fees apply.

For information on the animal services we provide, view our animal services page.

Tents

You can occupy a tent on your property but you must make sure that:

  • There is already a house on the property
  • You are not occupying a tent on land that is otherwise vacant
  • You don’t have any more than three (3) tents on the property at a time
  • All of the tents are at least five (5) feet away from the property line
  • You don’t collect any rent or receive compensation for the occupation of the tent
  • The tent is not a short-term rental accommodation

Trailers

You cannot occupy a trailer on your property unless:

  • You are in an approved campground (zoned to be a campground).
  • You are building or renovating your principle residence and you cannot occupy the residence (you must have a valid building permit in full force and effect)
  • You are building or renovating a commercial building and you can’t occupy the building but require on site security (you must have a valid building permit in full force and effect)

If you have a valid building permit, you can apply for a license to occupy a trailer outside of an approved campground. This occupation is considered “temporary” and not to exceed one (1) year. Fees and deposits are required to occupy the trailer.

Our Tent and Trailer By-Law explains the rules.

You can contact the Clerk’s Department if you need assistance.

The Sauble Beach By-Law regulates when dogs can be on the Beach and bans things like alcohol, cooking and warming devices, vehicles of any kind, animals, camping, fires, offering items for sale and tents.

Dogs are banned from being on the beach between June 1 and Labour Day each year.

Service animals are permitted. You must have with you, the paperwork from an approved health care provider and show the paperwork to By-Law Enforcement Officers.

By-law enforcement officers are enforcing the Traffic and Paid Parking By-Laws at Sauble Beach. Please be sure that you angle park where required, do not park in loading zones, fire routes, no parking areas and accessible parking spaces unless you have a valid accessible vehicle notice on display. Also be aware of parking spaces where there is a time limit for parking. Please ensure that you pay for parking in the paid parking areas.

Paid Parking is in effect from June 1 to Labour Day, inclusive. The hours when you are required to pay to park are 8am-5pm.

For assistance with Zoning By-Law Enforcement, please contact our Chief Building Official.

Please note that by-law set fines are subject to change and may not be as listed with by-laws.