By-laws & Policies

Blandford-Blenheim’s Animal Care & Control By-law regulates humane treatment, identification and licensing of dogs (including kennel licensing), limits most households to three dogs/cats, bans certain exotic species, sets standards for enclosures/tethering, and adopts provincial rules for pit bulls, service animals, and dog owner responsibilities. It authorizes officers to enforce at-large, seizure/impound and quarantine provisions, issue muzzle orders for dangerous dogs, and levy fees and set fines for non-compliance.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Cemeteries By-law regulates Township cemeteries, setting hours, conduct, liability, and a public register, and lists all active and inactive sites. It governs interment rights (purchase, 30-day cancellation, resale only through the operator, Care & Maintenance Fund contributions), burials (required permits, notice, containers, fees, who may open/close graves, limits per lot), memorials (materials, sizes, foundations, safety, and inscriptions), landscaping and decorations (what’s permitted/prohibited), contractor requirements (insurance/WSIB, hours), columbarium rules, and visitor conduct (speed limits, no pets/alcohol, fines for violations).

Blandford-Blenheim’s Clearing Refuse from Land By-law requires owners to keep land filled, drained, clean, and free of refuse; contain garbage properly; remove graffiti; control vermin; maintain pools safely; and store firewood neatly, while prohibiting dumping/littering and depositing snow/ice on sidewalks or roads. It authorizes inspections, work orders, municipal clean-ups with costs added to the tax roll, and fines (e.g., $700 for dumping, $200 for littering/obstructing). Exemptions cover active construction, lawful outdoor storage or disposal sites, agricultural lands, and managed perennial/naturalized areas.

Blandford-Blenheim's Livestock Fencing By-law requires property owners in Blandford-Blenheim who keep livestock (such as cattle, horses, goats, sheep, and pigs) to contain their animals with a secure perimeter fence or enclosure that meets minimum height and construction standards. Existing fences may remain if they are strong enough to keep livestock from leaving the property and are kept in good repair. If an owner fails to comply, the Township can order the work to be done, complete it if necessary, and recover the cost through property taxes. Violations may also result in fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blandford-Blenheim's Fireworks Regulation By-law regulates the sale and use of fireworks in Blandford-Blenheim. It bans firecrackers and flying lanterns, allows fireworks to be sold only in commercial zones with a Township permit around Victoria Day and Canada Day to buyers aged 18 and older, and permits fireworks to be set off only on private property with the owner’s permission, within safety distances, and before 11 p.m. on approved days. Public fireworks displays require a permit, insurance, and Fire Chief approval, and violations can lead to $250 fines enforced by by-law officers, police, or the Fire Chief.

Blandford-Blenheim's Fortification of Land By-law limits how land in Blandford-Blenheim can be fortified to ensure police and emergency services can access properties when needed. It bans excessive barriers or security features such as armored doors, sealed windows, electrified fences, traps, or surveillance extending beyond a property’s boundary. Reasonable household security is allowed, and exemptions can be requested and appealed. The Township can inspect, order removal or changes, do the work if owners don’t comply, charge costs back to property taxes, and issue fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blandford-Blenheim's Graphic Image Delivery By-law regulates the unsolicited delivery of graphic images, specifically images of fetuses, to homes in Blandford-Blenheim. Anyone distributing such material must place it in a sealed envelope or package clearly labeled with the sender’s name and address and a warning that it contains a graphic image. The rule does not apply to Canada Post mail or items requested by the resident. Violations can lead to fines up to $5,000, with set fines of $350 per offence.

Blandford-Blenheim's Health, Safety, and Wellbeing By-law aims to protect health, safety, and community well-being in Blandford-Blenheim. It bans disturbing the peace (such as yelling or using profanities), public urination, lewd acts, loitering, and creating nuisances in public spaces. Violations can result in fines ranging from $250 to $350, and the by-law is enforced by the OPP and municipal by-law officers.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Municipal Alcohol Policy By-law updates and adopts rules for serving alcohol on Township-owned or approved sites to ensure public safety, legal compliance, and responsible drinking. It sets conditions for permits, insurance, event staffing, youth controls, signage, safe transport, and enforcement, allowing the Township to revoke permissions or impose sanctions if the policy is violated.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Noise Control By-law bans excessive or disruptive noise/vibration—like squealing tires, loud stereos, persistent barking, firearm use, off-hours construction, or power tools—especially during set quiet hours in residential and industrial areas. It lists exemptions (e.g., emergencies, municipal work, agriculture, permitted events), allows Council to grant temporary permits, and authorizes enforcement with $125 fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blandford-Blenheim's Outdoor Recreational Events By-law requires anyone planning an outdoor event on private property in Blandford-Blenheim (such as a concert, festival, race, or rally) to obtain an Event Permit from the Township at least 30 days in advance. Applicants may need to submit an Event Plan covering safety and nuisance concerns like traffic, emergency access, noise, lighting, and waste management, and may be required to pay fees or a deposit to cover municipal costs such as policing and cleanup. Holding an event without a permit or failing to follow permit conditions can result in penalties under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blanford-Blenheim's Parking Control By-law sets the rules for stopping and parking on Township roads and in municipal lots. It bans parking in unsafe or obstructive spots (e.g., sidewalks, driveways, near hydrants, intersections, rail crossings) and enforces signed “no parking” and seasonal limits, including winter parking restrictions (Nov 1–Mar 31) and a 48-hour maximum for vehicles left on streets. By-law and OPP officers can ticket, tow, and impound vehicles at the owner’s cost. Penalties and early-payment options appear in Schedules A–C.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Procedure By-law sets the rules for how Council and committees meet and make decisions. It defines roles and decorum for the Mayor, Clerk, Members, and staff; establishes the standard agenda order, delegation rules, minutes, and by-law reading process. It outlines meeting logistics, regular and special schedules, public notice requirements, quorum, open-meeting rules with permitted closed-session exceptions, and electronic participation (including during declared emergencies). It governs debate and voting, including motions, amendments, recorded votes, reconsideration, and points of order or privilege. The by-law also establishes committee procedures and the Court of Revision process, allows temporary suspension of rules, clarifies priority in conflicts with other by-laws or legislation, repeals earlier procedure by-laws, and takes effect upon passage.

Blanford-Blenheim's Procurement Procedures By-law sets the Township’s rules for buying goods and services. It requires quotes for purchases over $5,000, formal tenders or proposals for larger amounts, and Council approval where needed. It allows emergency or sole-source buying only in defined cases, sets rules for bids, bonding, and insurance, and keeps the process fair, transparent, and cost-effective.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Property Standards By-law sets minimum maintenance and occupancy standards for all properties, covering yards, drainage, accessory buildings, vacant lands/buildings, and detailed residential/non-residential requirements (structural integrity, plumbing, electrical, heating, egress, lighting/ventilation, pest control, safety guards, etc.). It appoints Property Standards Officers, establishes a Property Standards Committee for appeals, and enables orders to comply with penalties under the Building Code Act if violations persist.

Blandford-Blenheim's Property Tax By-law sets the Township’s 2025 budget and property tax rates. It adopts the approved budget, levies taxes for municipal ($7.55M), county ($7.43M), and school ($3.29M) purposes, and applies the tax rates shown in Schedule B to all property classes. Taxes are due in two instalments: August 29 and October 31, 2025.

The by-law also allows the Treasurer to adjust or refund taxes as required by law and sets late-payment charges: a 1.25% penalty on the first day of default and monthly thereafter until year-end, plus 1.25% monthly interest on unpaid taxes after December 31. It authorizes collection of other special rates and confirms standard enforcement under the Municipal Act.

Blanford-Blenheim's Public Notice By-law sets the Township’s public notice rules—when notice is required, what it must include, and how and when it must be given (e.g., website, newspaper, mail), with detailed cases listed in Appendix A. It establishes minimum standards the Clerk or Council can exceed, allows deferrals without re-noticing, and lets the Mayor waive timelines in emergencies while making best efforts to inform the public. 

Blandford-Blenheim's Sale of Land By-law sets how the Township sells or disposes of land. Council must first declare land surplus, get a fair market value opinion, and give public notice (e.g., posting, newspaper, website). Sales can be by tender, negotiation, agent, auction, or exchange and need Council approval in public. Buyers cover related costs. Certain lands (e.g., road allowances, utility easements, tax sales, transfers to other governments) are exempt. 

Blandford-Blenheim's Smoking By-law makes all Township parks and facilities smoke-free. It updates earlier rules that only banned smoking near entrances and play areas, now prohibiting smoking or vaping anywhere on Township-owned parks, buildings, and grounds, with fines for violations under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blandford-Blenheim's Snow Vehicles By-law regulates snowmobiles in Blandford-Blenheim. Riding is banned in built-up areas (Bright, Drumbo, Plattsville, Princeton, Wolverton) from 11 p.m.–7 a.m., and snowmobiles are not allowed on sidewalks, boulevards, trails, or parks without permission. Police, Township staff, emergencies, and approved events are exempt. Offences can lead to fines under the Provincial Offences Act.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Yard & Lot Maintenance By-law requires owners to keep lands filled, drained, and free of refuse; maintain pools to avoid health hazards; properly contain and locate waste; remove graffiti; and secure or fill excavations, while prohibiting illegal dumping on private or municipal property, with defined terms for what counts as “refuse.” It empowers by-law officers to inspect, issue Work Orders, and, if non-compliance continues, have the work done at the owner’s expense (recoverable on the tax roll), with exemptions for lawful agricultural uses, construction under permit, designated disposal sites, and managed perennial/naturalized areas.

Blandford-Blenheim's Building By-law 2081-2018 (amended by 2294-2022) sets the rules for building in Blandford-Blenheim. It requires permits for construction, demolition, changes of use and occupancy. Applications must include drawings, approvals and designer or engineer details; permits must be posted, and required inspections booked. Work without a permit can add a 50% fee (up to $2,500). The Chief Building Official enforces the Building Code, issues and can revoke permits, and oversees a Code of Conduct for inspectors. Fees and refundable deposits are listed in the by-law and are indexed yearly (per By-law 2294-2022).

Blandford-Blenheim's Development Charges By-law requires new development to fund growth-related roads, fire, parks & recreation, and administrative studies; rates vary by housing type, non-residential floor area (per m²), and wind turbines, and are indexed annually on April 1. Exemptions cover municipal/school properties, places of worship, public hospitals, farm buildings, affordable or temporary dwellings, long-term care homes, and certain added units in existing homes; fees are usually paid at building permit, with possible credits for timely demolition/conversion.

Blandford-Blenheim's Fence By-law regulates fence height and types. On interior and corner lots, fences may be up to 0.91 m (3 ft) in front yards and up to 2.43 m (8 ft) in side and rear yards. Barbed wire is allowed only on agricultural lands for livestock, or at the top of commercial/industrial or Township facility security fences (projecting inward). Electric fences are only permitted on agricultural land for livestock and must not exceed 120 V at 0.04 A and must meet provincial electrical rules. The by-law doesn’t apply to pre-existing fences, pool or construction fencing, temporary snow fencing, OBC-regulated deck guards, or site-plan-approved fencing; fences cannot block required parking. Minor variances go through the Committee of Adjustment; public bodies may erect necessary service fences with Township permission; fines can reach $5,000.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Pool Enclosure By-law requires a permit and a secure barrier around any private outdoor pool 0.76 m (2 ft 6 in) or deeper, including inflatables. Fences must be at least 1.52 m (5 ft) high, built to be hard to climb (horizontal/diagonal rails on the pool side), and gates must be self-closing and self-latching with the latch on the pool side near the top. Acceptable barriers include chain-link (50 mm mesh) or vertical picket/iron bar styles with tight spacing (typically ≤100 mm between bars); limited lattice is only allowed as a small top section. A house or outbuilding wall can form part of the enclosure if it’s ≥1.52 m from the water and any doors are self-closing/latching (or locked when not occupied). Above-ground pools may rely on their own walls if they’re ≥1.1 m (3 ft 6 in) above grade and access is secured (e.g., self-storing ladder); keep the pump ≥1.52 m from the pool. Barriers must be set back at least 1.52 m from climbable features, and a 1.52 m fence is required between adjacent pools. A plot plan and fence details are needed with the permit; existing fences that complied with the former by-law are grandfathered, and electric fences are only permitted as farm fencing in agricultural zones.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Sign By-law sets permit, placement, and size rules: most permanent signs need a permit, must be safe/maintained, and can’t block visibility; roof, tree, and vehicle-mounted signs are banned. Temporary signs (real-estate, election, construction, portable/sandwich boards, inflatables) are allowed with limits; homes get only a small non-lit home-business sign, commercial/industrial sites can use wall/ground signs within caps, billboards are tightly limited to ag/industrial/highway-commercial zones, abandoned signs must be removed in 14 days, and the Township can enforce or grant variances.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Site Alteration By-law controls earth-moving: you generally need a Township permit to place or dump fill, remove topsoil, or change land grades, and any fill must be clean. Common exemptions include small landscaping (under 60 m³/year that doesn’t alter drainage), limited farm placements (under 500 m³/year on ag land over 2 ha and 10 m from lot lines), normal agricultural practices (not topsoil for sale), work already approved through building, subdivision or site-plan permits, pits/quarries and drainage works, industrial stockpiles, routine golf-course maintenance, and certain utility/municipal/Crown works; conservation authority rules still apply and may override. Permits can require engineer soil reports, letters of credit for large jobs (>1,000 m³), and conditions like erosion control, insurance, roadway cleanup, and specific grading (positive drainage, match grades at lot lines, max 3:1 slopes). Permits last up to 12 months and can be refused or revoked for non-compliance or risk. The Township can inspect, order you to stop or fix work, do the work itself and bill you (addable to taxes), and levy fines up to $10,000 for a first offence ($50,000 for corporations), higher for repeats.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Site Plan Control By-law makes the entire township a Site Plan Control Area. Most commercial, industrial, institutional, village/highway commercial, and higher-density residential projects—and expansions over 25% or changes that intensify use—need site plan approval. Exemptions include single/semi/duplex/converted homes (max 2 units) and approved street-fronting townhouses, small additions under 25%, typical farm buildings (not agri-business), and portable classrooms on existing school sites. Applicants must pre-consult with staff, file detailed plans/studies, and sign a site plan agreement to build and maintain required works (access, parking, drainage, landscaping, lighting, etc.), backed by financial security (generally the greater of $2,000 or 50% of on-site works, plus 100% for works in road allowances/easements). The CAO (or delegate) can approve, condition, and enforce; applicants may ask Council to step in or appeal to the LPAT if there’s no decision in 30 days or they dispute conditions. Approvals lapse if permits aren’t obtained and work started within a year (or finished within two), and the Township can complete required works at the owner’s expense and pursue offences for non-compliance.

The Township of Blandford-Blenheim Zoning By-Law controls the use of land by dividing the municipality into different land use zones with detailed maps, specifying the uses permitted in each zone, specifying where buildings and other structures can be located, stating the types of buildings that are permitted and how they may be used, as well as specifying lot sizes and dimensions, parking requirements, building heights and setbacks from the street.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Corporate Communications Plan 2025 is a three-year roadmap to make Township communications clearer, more consistent, accessible, and two-way, aligned with the 2025–2028 Strategic Plan. It focuses on: Year 1—brand guidelines, website redesign, a central comms calendar, and staff training; Year 2—expanded digital engagement, annual community surveys, rotating town halls, and a public performance dashboard; Year 3—an impact review, refreshed branding, stronger accessibility, more multimedia, and a new 3–5-year roadmap. Progress will be measured with KPIs (web, social, survey, event metrics) and reported semi-annually to staff and annually to Council; most work fits current resources, with potential future budget asks for web/engagement tools.

Blandford-Blenheim's Flag Protocol Policy states that the Township flies only the Canada, Ontario, and Township flags at municipal sites. Flags are lowered to half-mast for official mourning (national/provincial leaders, Mayor/Council, local MPs/MPPs, current staff, firefighters or OPP killed in the line of duty, and Township CAF members who die in service) and on Nov 11; timing follows federal/provincial protocols or the CAO. A separate Community Flag Pole can display local community/charitable/not-for-profit flags with CAO approval (apply 4 weeks ahead; requester supplies a max 6×3 ft flag; usually up to 1 week, extendable to 1 month), without implying Township endorsement. No proclamations, and no flags for profit-making, political or religious advocacy, attempts to influence policy, or content contrary to Township policies (including hateful or discriminatory material).

Blandford-Blenheim’s Frivolous, Vexatious or Unreasonable Complaints Policy ensures municipal resources are used effectively while maintaining respectful and efficient service for all residents. The policy outlines how staff will identify and address complaints or requests that are repetitive, unfounded, or made in bad faith, ensuring Township operations remain fair, safe, and responsive to the broader community.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Telecommunication Towers Policy sets out how new or modified cell towers should be planned, sited, designed, and consulted on under federal rules. It pushes early dialogue with neighbours and the Township, prioritizes co-location on existing structures, and generally steers new towers away from homes, landmarks, heritage/natural features, and scenic views—aiming for at least 500 m from residential areas where possible. If a new tower is needed, the preference is industrial or public sites; near homes, it should be a slim, “disguised” monopole, designed and landscaped to blend in, with minimal lighting (only if required) and no advertising. Proponents must show why co-location won’t work, meet setback/access needs (incl. one parking space), and follow a public process: pre-consult with the Township, apply with fees and plans, and hold a public meeting with mailed notice to properties within 500 m and on-site posting (costs paid by the proponent). Government/emergency or short-term (≤ ~3 months) installs can be exempt from public consultation. Where Township land fits the technical needs, the Township may act as the preferred landlord on normal commercial terms.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Policy guarantees a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual harassment, poisoned environments, and abuse of authority, consistent with the OHSA and the Ontario Human Rights Code. It applies to all employees (full-time, part-time, contract, students) and to work-related settings on or off site. Employees must not engage in such conduct and are encouraged to speak up, document concerns, and report to a supervisor/manager or the CAO/Clerk; managers must take every complaint seriously, investigate, document, and act. Substantiated misconduct leads to discipline up to termination; retaliation and bad-faith complaints are prohibited. Employees may also file with the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

Blandford-Blenheim’s Workplace Violence Policy commits to a safe, respectful, inclusive workplace and zero tolerance for violence or threats—physical force, attempts, or statements reasonably seen as threatening. It applies to all staff, firefighters, students, and Council, and covers Township facilities and events; prohibited conduct includes intimidation, bullying, stalking, assault, weapons (except bona fide job requirements), and other behaviour a reasonable person would view as violent, including impacts of domestic violence at work. The Township trains and assesses risks, investigates every report, documents and addresses hazards, involves authorities as needed, and protects good-faith reporters from reprisal while keeping matters as confidential as possible. Managers must act promptly on concerns; employees must report. Proven violations can lead to discipline up to dismissal and/or criminal prosecution.