Property Standards | Township of Brock

The Township of Brock Property Standards By-law sets local property standards for maintenance and occupancy. Review the property standards and learn how to submit a complaint if you notice non-compliance with the by-law.

Submit a property standards complaint

Complaint Procedures

When we receive a complaint, our By-law Enforcement officer will investigate the complaint using the following step-by-step process:

Investigate the property to determine the violation
Contact the property owner
Issue an order to comply with the bylaw
Set out a time line for when they must comply

If you don't comply with the voluntary order, we will issue an Order to Remedy Violation of Standards of Maintenance and Occupancy and set out a time line for when you must comply.

If you fail to meet the standards outlined in the order, we may initiate the actions to complete the necessary repairs. Any costs will be applied to the property tax rolls for that property.

Fines

The maximum fine for non-compliance with a property standards order is $25,000 for an individual and $50,000 for a corporation.

Appeals

If you are not satisfied with the terms of the order, you can appeal to the Property Standards Committee. The committee can either:

Uphold the order
Rescind the order
Modify the length of the time the owner has to comply with the order

Property Standard Requirements

If you own property in the Township of Brock, you are required to meet the requirements outlined in the Property Standards By-law. For example, here are some of the standards:

All structures are required to be structurally sound and all exterior walls, roofs and foundations are required to be free of water leaks and painted or otherwise treated or waterproofed.
All heating, plumbing and mechanical systems and elevating devices must be maintained and operational in good working order.
Residential occupancies must comply with minimum requirements regarding room dimensions, ceiling heights, ventilation, potable water and an adequate supply of hot water.
All exterior property areas shall be kept clear of inoperative vehicles and garbage.
All exterior property areas shall have well maintained lawns and control of weeds and pests.

Boulevard Maintenance

A boulevard is the area of Township-owned land between the homeowner’s front property line and the street curb. Every Owner or Occupant of a property is responsible for the maintenance of the grassy boulevard portion of land on their property line to the street curb. Please read the Boulevard Maintenance By-law for more information. Maintaining the grassy boulevard portion includes the following:

Maintaining the grassy boulevard portion includes the following:

Cutting the grass and weeds and removing the cuttings whenever the growth of grass or weeds exceeds 20.32 cm (8 inches) in height
Keeping the Boulevard clean and free from:
- Hazardous objects or materials.
- Domestic animal excrement.
- Rubbish or other debris.
- Yard waste.
- Holes, ruts, and excavations that are actual or potential health, fire or safety hazards
- Anything that may attract or harbour rodents or pests.
- May overflow onto the street, sidewalk, highway, or adjacent property.
- Noxious weeds or invasive plant species designated by or under the Weed Control Act R.S.O. 1990, c.W.5.
No person shall relocate any snow from private property onto a Boulevard.
No person shall erect, display, repair or alter, cause, or permit to be erected, displayed, repaired, or altered, any sign or advertising device or any other object or thing that restricts sight lines of pedestrians, cyclists or drivers of vehicles to intersections, driveways, sidewalks, walkways, travel lanes, or traffic control devices.
No person shall obscure or obstruct access to fire hydrants, post office boxes, or other installations belonging to the Township, Region, or any utility provider.
Every owner or occupant of a property shall maintain the paved portion or hard surface of a Boulevard that forms part of a driveway Apron in front of, alongside, or at the rear of the property.
Maintaining the paved portion of a Boulevard includes the following:
- Keeping the paved portion of the Boulevard in a good state of repair to afford safe passage under normal use for persons and vehicles.
- Keeping the paved portion of the Boulevard clear of snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall to provide safe passage for persons and vehicles.
- Keeping the paved portion of the Boulevard clean and free from:
  - Hazardous objects or materials.
  - Domestic animal excrement.
  - Rubbish or other debris.
  - holes, ruts, and excavations.

Boulevard Gardens

The boulevard garden program is an excellent way to beautify your neighbourhood with ornamentals and support our ecosystem by planting native species. For property owners in the Township of Brock who are interested in non-standard boulevard landscaping, register for free by signing and agreeing to complete the guidelines outline in the Boulevard Garden Policy and Guidelines.

General Information

Add 5 centimetres (2 inches) of organic material (e.g. manure, compost, leaf mold) every two years to create a rich, nutritious soil, and remove the need to fertilize.
For the first few weeks, keep the top 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) of soil moist. After that, water once a week until plants are established (one to two seasons).
Adding 5 to 10 centimetres (2 to 4 inches) of mulch every few years to reduce watering needs, prevent weeds and increase plant survival and growth.
Keep the final mulched surface 3.5 centimetres (1 inch) below the curb or sidewalk to prevent erosion and runoff

Boulevard garden plant designfull sun

At least six hours of direct sunlight.
Well–drained soil that doesn’t dry out.

Spring

Artemisia species, wormwood (salt tolerant) Coreopsis verticillata, threadleaf coreopsis Dianthus gratianopolitanus, cheddar pinks (salt tolerant) Phlox subulata, creeping phlox (salt tolerant

Summer

Achillea millefolium, yarrow (salt tolerant, spreads quickly) Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed (salt tolerant) Lavandula species, lavender Thymus pseudolanuginosus, wooly thyme

Fall

Elymus arenarius, blue lyme grass (salt tolerant, spreads quickly) Juniperus squamata, blue carpet juniper (salt tolerant) Perovskia atriplicifolia, Russian sage Sedum spurium ‘Fuldaglut’, dragon’s blood stonecrop (salt tolerant)

Boulevard garden plant designshade

Less than three hours of direct sunlight each day, filtered sunlight the rest of the day.
Rich, well-drained, soil

Spring

Polygonatum species, Solomon’s seal Pulmonaria species, lungwort Tiarella cordifolia, foam flower

Summer

Aruncus aethusifolius, dwarf goat’s beard Lamium maculatum, spotted deadnettle Heuchera species, coral bells Hosta species, plantain lilies

Fall

Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’, sedge grass Dryopteris erythrosora, autumn fern Epimedium species, barrenwort