By-laws and Policies

All regulations pertaining to animal care and control are detailed in By-law No. 2015-43.  Update to the Animal Care and Control By-law 41-16:A recent update to the Animal Control By-law includes the difference between Dwelling building types and the total domestic cats and dogs that are permitted. These changes are as follows:

Section 1.1 which defined the term Dwelling unit has been modified to include specific building types. The definitions now include Multiple Unit Dwellings such as, apartments, boarding houses, converted dwelling, duplexes, street fronting townhouses, and other multiple unit dwellings. Single Dwelling Units are semi-detached, and Single Detached Dwelling mean a building that only contains one dwelling unit.

Section 7 of the By-law outlines how many cats and dogs, and a combination cats/dogs are permitted.7.1 In a Dwelling – Single Unit, no person shall, within the Township of Zorra, keep any animal except those permitted in accordance with the following:

a) three dogs;

b) three domestic cats;(Amended by By-law 41-16)

7.1.1 In a Dwelling – Multiple Unit, no person shall, within the Township of Zorra, keep any animal except those permitted in accordance with the following:

a) where there are no dogs, a maximum of two domestic cats;

b) where there is one dog, a maximum of one domestic cat;

c) where there are two dogs, no domestic cats.

The Township of Zorra Council enacted By-law 50-12 to Govern and regulate the maintenance, occupancy, use of, and other matters pertaining to, those portions of public highways under the jurisdiction of the Township of Zorra known as boulevards. The purpose of the by-law is to improve boulevard maintenance, safety and aesthetics throughout the Township. 

By-law 50-12 defines “Boulevard” as “that part of a Highway (whether assumed or unassumed by the Township) between a Street Line and the edge of the curb or, where there is no curb, that portion of the Highway Road Allowance between the travelled portion to the Street Line. A Boulevard may or may not contain a sidewalk. A boulevard must be in a serviced area of the Township as defined in the Official Plan.” By-law requirements are as follows, but not limited to:

• Clean and Clear the Abutting Boulevard of all debris, waste, refuse and litter;

• Clean and Clear the Abutting Boulevard of any abandoned items, machinery, equipment or other thing;

• Maintain grass and weeds on any Abutting Boulevard at a height which is not greater than twenty (20) cm (eight (8) in) in height;

• Maintain the Landscaping on any Abutting Boulevard so that Landscaping materials do not encroach over that portion of an adjacent Highway that is travelled or designed to be travelled by Vehicles, adjacent driveway or sidewalk.

If the By-law Enforcement Officer is satisfied that a contravention of the by-law has occurred, the officer may make a Work Order requiring the person who contravened the by-law or who caused or permitted the contravention or the owner or occupier of the land to do the work to correct the contravention. Failure to correct the contravention will allow the Corporation of the Township of Zorra to have the property brought into compliance and recover the costs incurred from the person directed.

Building By-law 01-24

Building Code - Set Fines By-law 41-20

By-law no. 74-12 (consolidated)

32-19 (consolidated)

 37-11

 11-09 (consolidated)

Please be advised that every owner of a privately owned swimming pool in Zorra Township shall erect and maintain a fence completely surrounding such pool in accordance with the provisions of Fence By-law 42-20 (consolidated by-law). 

A privately owned swimming pool is any type of pool, when filled, contains a depth of 18 inches or more of water at any given section and is not enclosed and covered by an accessory structure but does not include fish ponds, hot tubs, spas or irrigation ponds. If the pool is an above-ground swimming pool a fence is not required if the structure is at least 4 feet in height above grade, and has no permanently attached ladder which is removed when the pool in not in use. It cannot contain any exterior foothold or handholds including a pump or accessory appurtenance or structure. Where a deck is erected at or near the rim level of an above-ground privately owned swimming pool, the deck shall be fenced and gated and such deck fencing and gates shall conform to the requirements. In addition, no owner shall fill a privately owned swimming pool with water or allow water to remain therein unless a fence has been erected in accordance with the bylaw.

Once the fencing has been completed to the specifications as outlined in the by-law, the owner shall notify the Chief Building Official or the Township Building Inspector within 24 hours or by the next business day so that an inspection may be conducted. To obtain a full copy of the by-law which outlines materials, construction, general provisions, and enforcement you can review/download By-law No. 42-20 or contact the Township Office. The Township will be taking this by-law very seriously and inspections will take place.

 57-11 (consolidated)

Residents may set off consumer fireworks on their private property 2 days prior to and 2 days following Canada Day, Labour Day, Victoria Day and Diwali as long as they are set off before 11:00 p.m., must be 18 years of age or older. Consumer fireworks are prohibited from being discharged inside of any building, structure, or vehicle. Written approval by the Chief Fire Official is required for discharging fireworks from Municipal Property including streets, lanes, squares, parks, etc. Reminder for residents to let their neighbours know when they plan to set off fireworks.

Fireworks may be sold in the Township, 7 days prior to Canada Day, Labour Day, Victoria Day and Diwali, to persons 18 years of age or older, as long as the retailer receives an approved permit from the Township. Anyone who contravenes this by-law may be subject to a $200 fine. Fireworks By-law 2014-36 (consolidated).

The purpose of this by-law is to regulate the unsolicited Delivery of Graphic Images to residences, so that recipients have an opportunity to choose whether they wish to view such images. View by-law 2023-17 here.

This is a reminder to all residents that depositing leaves and snow from private property onto a public roadway is dangerous and in contravention of the Highway Obstruction By-law 29-19.  Pushing or placing any leaves, snow or ice or any other obstruction of a roadway is an offence that carries a Provincial Offences Fine of $105.00.

Reduced Load Season

A reminder to all drivers of heavy trucks and equipment that the reduced load season takes effect for the period of February 15 to April 30 inclusive each year.  In accordance with By-law 21-03, signs will be posted on applicable Township roadways.

A line fence is a fence that marks the boundary between two adjoining properties. The Line Fences Act is not intended to resolve boundary line disputes. It provides a procedure for resolving disputes concerning the type of fence and how costs of fencing work are shared between property owners. See the Line Fences Act. The act applies when:

• No line fence currently exists and one owner wants a new fence constructed on the boundary line between the two properties

• A line fence currently exists and one owner wants to reconstruct or repair it

The act does not apply when:

• 1 owner has constructed a new line fence or reconstructed/ repaired an existing line fence and then wants to use the arbitration procedure to force the other owner to pay part of the cost of completed work

• There is a boundary line dispute

Starting the Procedure

If two adjoining owners are unable to reach an agreement on the construction, reconstruction or repair of a line fence, either owner may initiate the arbitration procedure by submitting an application to the municipality. Tenants are not eligible to submit applications. Before submitting an application, you should:

• Attempt to reach agreement with the adjoining owner

• Discuss the matter informally with municipal staff

• Make sure the act is applicable to both properties and that the boundary between the two properties is not in dispute

Download the application package, complete and submit the application and fee (fee to be determined).

Fence Viewing and Award

If the Act is deemed applicable, fence-viewers will be assigned to conduct a fence viewing. The fence-viewers will prepare their decision, which the Act calls an "award". The award must include:

• The location of the fence to be built/ reconstructed

• A description of the fence to be built/ reconstructed

• The division of responsibility

• Starting and completion dates

• Allocation of costs of the proceedings

An owner who is dissatisfied with the award can appeal within 15 days of receiving a certified copy of the award from the municipality.

Please note that the Motorized Vehicle By-law 40-20, prohibits motorized vehicles in public parks within Zorra Township and is subject to a Provincial Offences Charge ($200.00) .  For the purposes of this By-law, motorized vehicles shall include all vehicles, conveyances of every description, and whose motive power is an internal combustion engine and, without limiting the generality hereof, shall include automobiles, motorcycles, motorized bicycles and mopeds, recreational all-terrain vehicles, dune buggys, trucks, tractors and snowmobiles.

NOTE: Unless permission is obtained from property owner, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are prohibited on private property and are considered trespassing. All complaints regarding trespassing on private property should be forwarded to the Ontario Provincial Police.

The Township of Zorra has a noise By-Law 69-2012, as amended section 2. (2.1), which prohibits the persistent barking from dogs in all zones of the Township. Persistent barking would be described as causing excessive noise that has disrupted residents in the surrounding area. 

 52-19

 13-19

62-11

62-22 (consolidated)

 54-18

22-08

21-03 (consolidated)

72-20

Open Air Burning

Open-air burning within the boundaries of the Township of Zorra is prohibited unless permission has been given by the Fire Chief in the form of a Fire Permit. Please review By-law 30-20 for more information.

Recreational Burning

Recreational fires may be permitted which are contained within non-combustible containers or pits specifically designed for open-air burnings. Some General Provisions are listed below, however, please see By-law 30-20 for all General Provisions:

• Burning may be conducted between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and midnight only. No materials other than dry seasoned wood, commercially produced charcoal and briquettes may be burned
• Open-air burnings shall be confined to non-combustible containers or to a pit no larger than two feet by two feet with flames not exceeding 2 feet in height.
• The burning pit shall be confined to a location at least 15 feet in all directions from adjacent properties and or structures.
• An extinguishing agent of sufficient size and with the capability extinguishing the fire shall be immediately available for use.
• The fire shall be attended, controlled and supervised at all times and shall be completely extinguished before the site is vacated.
• Open-air burning is prohibited when the wind speed exceeds fifteen kilometres per hour or during rainy or foggy weather conditions or when a smog alert has been declared.

72-19

49-03

A reminder for residents that Township Council enacted By-law 38-19 on July 17, 2019, to prohibit smoking at any Township Facility. A portion of the by-law reads as follows: No person shall smoke, or use a smoking product on any Township facility, including but not limited to municipal parkland, playground equipment, sports fields and spectator seating, at all times, whether or not a “No Smoking” sign is posted. A full copy of By-law 38-19 is available for download here, or by contacting the Township office.

The tree by-law authorizes and regulates the planting, maintenance, protection, preservation, and removal of trees on township property or over oradjacent to highways under the jurisdiction of the municipality. 

By-law 13-19 (consolidated)

19-23

4193-2002