Town of Richmond Hill Act, 1996
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Bill allows the council of The Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill to pass by-laws requiring owners or occupants of private property to cut the grass and weeds on their property when they are over 20 centimetres high, or such greater height as provided in the by-law.
Bill Pr1996
An Act respecting the Town of Richmond Hill
Preamble
The Corporation of the Town of Richmond Hill, referred to in this Act as the Corporation, has applied for special legislation in respect of the matters set out in this Act.
It is appropriate to grant the application.
Therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:
By-laws respecting grass and weed cutting
1. (1) The council of the Corporation may pass by-laws,
(a) requiring the owners or occupants of private property in the municipality or in any defined area of the municipality to cut the grass and weeds on their land and to remove the cuttings whenever the growth of grass or weeds exceeds 20 centimetres in height or such greater height as the by-law may provide;
(b) despite clause (a), providing for the cutting of grass and weeds and for the removal of cuttings by the Corporation on private property owned or occupied by any class or classes of persons.
Notice
(2) No step shall be taken to enforce a by-law passed under subsection (1) until the owner or occupant of the land has been given a written notice requiring compliance with the by-law within the time specified in the notice, but no sooner than 72 hours after the giving of the notice.
Service
(3) The notice may be given by personal service upon the person to whom it is directed or by sending it by registered mail to that person.
Same
(4) A notice sent by registered mail shall be sent to the last known address of the person to whom it is directed and it shall be deemed to have been given on the day it is delivered to that address.
Action by official
(5) If the owners or occupants of the land have failed to comply with the notice, an official named in the by-law or any person acting under the official's instructions may, uponproducing appropriate identification, enter upon the private property between sunrise and sunset and do the things that are described in the notice.
Recovery of expenses
(6) The Corporation may recover from the owner all expenses related to the actions taken under subsection (5), including administrative fees, by action or it may collect them in like manner as municipal taxes.
Instalments
(7) The council of the Corporation may provide that the expenses incurred by it under subsection (5), with interest, shall be payable by the owner in annual instalments for a period not exceeding 10 years and the Corporation may borrow money to cover the expenses by the issue of debentures of the Corporation payable in not more than 10 years.
Corporation not liable
(8) The Corporation is not liable to compensate an owner, occupant or any other person having an interest in the property for anything done by or on behalf of the Corporation pursuant to a by-law passed under this section.
Commencement
2. This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.
Short title
3. The short title of this Act is the Town of Richmond Hill Act, 1996.