Property Standards

When you own property in the Municipality of Greenstone, you must follow property standards for maintenance and occupancy.

Required property standards

Council enacted Property Standards By-law 23-83 on December 11, 2023. Review the by-law for requirements that apply to your property.

Submit a concern

If you notice a property that is non-compliant, you can submit a concern for action to be taken by our By-law Enforcement Officer.

Property Standards Complaint Form

Inspections

Inspection fees for 2024 vary based on repeat visits and compliance as outlined in By-law 23-86 Schedule J

• $57.71 (first visit)
• $115.43 (second visit)
• $230.45 (third visit and each re-inspection subsequent to the third)

After the inspection, the property owner may be asked to make changes to their property in order to comply with the by-law. If the property owner doesn't voluntarily comply, we may need to issue an Order to Comply. The Order to Comply gives the Municipality the authority to enter a property, make any necessary changes and then charge the property owner for the cost of any required changes.

property standards committee

In our ongoing effort to move forward with beautification initiatives and property standards implementation, Council enacted the Property Standards Committee By-law on August 12, 2024.

purpose

The Municipality of Greenstone has set out standards to ensure property owners maintain their properties within the community. The Property Standards By-law and the Clean Yards By-law regulate items of safety and general upkeep of properties and buildings. The Property Standards Committee is appointed by Council to consider appeals to orders issued by the Municipality. It is the Committee's role to make an informed, impartial decision.

If the property does not conform to the by-law, the Municipality investigates and determines if the Property Standards By-law or the Clean Yards By-law have been violated. If so, a Property Standards Order is issued to the owner. Orders are issued for violations of certain Ontario Building Code and Municipal By-Law standards for residential, multiple residential and commercial properties. 

If an owner disagrees with the order or a portion of the order, they may appeal to the Property Standards Committee. The Committee conducts a public hearing to address the appeal and makes decisions to confirm, modify and rescind the order to demolish or repair, and to extend time for complying with the order.

terms of reference

The Committee has the following powers under the Ontario Building Code Act.

• Confirm the Order or Orders served by the Municipality
• Quash the Order
• Amend the Order or extend the deadline for compliance

Examples of property not complying with the Property Standards:

• Properties laden with debris
• Unsightly vegetation
• Conditions that constitute a health, fire or accident hazard

The Committee will be familiar with general rules of procedure before administrative tribunals, admissibility of evidence, and the relevant provisions under the Ontario Building Code Act. The Committee Members must be objective, possess relevant education or experience and remain impartial when considering Appeals. 

COMPLETE TERMS OF REFERENCE

PROCESS SUMMARY

On receipt of an appeal, the Property Standards Committee has all the powers and functions of the officer who made the order and the Committee may do any of the following things if, in the Committee's opinion, doing so would maintain the general intent and purpose of the by-law and of the official plan or policy statement: