Community Standards | Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Community Standards Bylaw

Maintaining Your Property

Public and Private Places

Transportation

Responsible Pet Ownership

Land Development/Home Improvements

Community Standards Bylaw

Thriving communities are built by all of us. The RMWB Community Standards Bylaw (No. 21/010) lays out the rules to promote safe, clean and accessible neighbourhoods by setting the standards for public behaviour, property maintenance and noise.

What are my responsibilities?

Click on the icons above to learn more about the specific standards or read the full bylaw here. Key standards and responsibilities for everyone including businesses are:

Property maintenance: Tidy properties make happy neighbourhoods. Maintain the exterior of your home or business as well as other structures and lawns. Keep grass 15 cm or less, right to the curb and keep the sidewalks by your property clear of snow and ice. Remove junk, unused vehicles and ensure your address is displayed. Your eavestroughs and all water runoff must drain away from other properties. Visit the Maintaining Your Property webpage to learn more.
Public behaviour: Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and have safe, welcoming public spaces to enjoy. Pick up after yourself, dispose of items properly, report graffiti and treat public spaces like your own. Visit the Public and Private Places webpage to learn more.
Noise control: Good night sleeps make happy neighbours. Keep noise to a minimum between 10 p.m. - 7 a.m. on weekdays (9 a.m. on weekends and statutory holidays). Turn vehicles off. No idling unless it’s below –20° or above 30°. Find more details on the standards for noise on the Maintaining Your Property webpage.
Safety and Accessibility: Keep your neighbourhood moving forward by ensuring your property is safe and accessible. For businesses, this includes ensuring parking lots are maintained and potholes filled that are causing safety risks. For residential properties, this includes ensuring your belongings aren’t blocking sidewalks and alleyways or encroaching on other properties.
Report concerns: If you see community standards not being followed in your neighbourhood, report it to Pulse to ensure it is addressed. Bylaw Officers can issue warnings, violation tickets and remedial orders, including fines. Reports can be submitted anonymously.

Enforcement

Bylaw Services is increasing education and enforcement of the Community Standards Bylaw across the region with voluntary compliance remaining the goal. This includes commercial properties.

How do I report a concern?

If you see something that doesn’t look (or sound) right, report it to Bylaw by:

Online - This can be done anonymously but the more information we have, the easier we can resolve the issue. Create an inquiry

By phone - Call Pulse at 780-743-7000 or toll-free 1-800-973-9663

What do I do if I have something I need to fix?

Voluntary compliance is the goal! By reading the Bylaw, you can get a better understanding of what is required. If there is something that needs to be addressed, a Bylaw Officer may visit you to explain what needs to happen or you can call Pulse to get assistance from Bylaw Services. In most cases, you will receive a warning initially before a remedial order or violation ticket is issued for non-compliance. There are significant fines up to $10,000 for non-compliance.

Community Standards Appeal Committee

The Community Standards Appeal Committee is a Council Committee established to:

Hear and adjudicate appeals brought by any person who has received an order brought by a decision under the Community Standards Bylaw No. 21/010, and under section 545 or 546 of the Municipal Government Act and other related proceedings.
Hear and adjudicate appeals brought by a Hen Licensing Decision, Animal Licensing Decision or Declaration of Vicious Animal.

Interested in joining the committee?

Requirement

Detailed-oriented individuals with good analytical skills and the ability to be fair and open-minded are essential for appointment to this Committee. Previous experience with administrative tribunals is considered an asset.

Meeting Frequency

The Committee will meet on a as needed basis the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. The length of the hearings will vary and can take up to several hours.

Eligibility

Must be 18 years of age
Must be a resident of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Must not be an employee of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo
Must have strong communication skills (written and verbal)
Must be able to attend evening and/or weekend meetings