TAMRMS#: B05
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BUDGET INFORMATION REQUEST (BIR) - Community Standards Bylaw
Requested by: Councillor Korotash
Date of Request: November 17, 2025
Date Response Due: November 21, 2025
Confidential: No
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QUESTION
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It is my understanding we have the community standards bylaw coming back with some changes this year in response to a motion by Councillor Hughes. Is the review of that bylaw limited to construction garbage or is there an opportunity to open it up and review more than just that aspect - i.e. front yards / naturalized yards. Wondering about budget implications. If we want to open up the bylaw and make more amendments, does that require a business case or additional funding or do we have that capacity internally. It would make sense to make all necessary changes to that bylaw at the same time, but not sure if that requires dedicated funding.
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RESPONSE
On September 16th, 2025, City Council approved the following motion:
(CM-25-019)
“That the Community Standards Bylaw be amended to add provisions regarding standards related to debris at construction sites, and other potential policy and program options regarding limiting construction debris be evaluated, all to be presented to Council by April 15, 2026”.
The scope of the Community Standards Bylaw review that is planned is specific to the above motion and Administration does not have any current plans to propose additional amendments at this time.
On October 3, 2023 Council passed the following motion,
(CM-23-43)
“That Administration present to Council not later than Q2 2024 such new or amended bylaw provisions, policies or other documents as in the opinion of Administration may be required or advisable to:
1. Allow residential landowners a wider scope of permissible vegetation and landscaping options on their properties (including front and side yards) than is currently allowed under the Community Standards Bylaw, including alternatives such as food crops, pollinating gardens, rain gardens and xeriscaping.
2. Encourage developers of new subdivisions to create development concepts that will similarly allow new purchasers of their residential lots a wider scope of vegetation and landscaping options; consistent with land owners’ responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Weed Control Act and Weed Control Regulation that noxious weeds must be controlled and prohibited noxious weeds must be destroyed, and with the requirements of land owners and occupiers set out in the City’s Surface Drainage Bylaw.”
Administration completed the above work and presented and refined the bylaw amendments in accordance with Council direction between May and December of 2024. On December 17, 2024 (BL-24-044), third reading of a bylaw that would amend the Community Standards Bylaw was defeated and as a result no further work has been undertaken on this matter.
Should there be a desire to review the Community Standards Bylaw again, Administration recommends that a member of Council reach out to Administration through the CAO to gain a clear understanding of the goals and outcome of the review so that assistance could be offered in terms of drafting a notice of motion for Council debate and consideration. Administration anticipates that the review could be completed without a need for additional funding, depending on the desired scope and timeline for completion.
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Report Date: November 18, 2025
Author(s): Aaron Giesbrecht
Department: Emergency Services
Department Director: Aaron Giesbrecht - Acting
Managing Director: Diane McMordie
Chief Administrative Officer: William Fletcher