The City of Cornwall is working with retail outlets to ensure shopping carts stay where they belong. Retailers have been reminding shoppers that removal of carts is theft, and have been encouraging the purchase of personal carts.

Despite these extra efforts by business owners and managers, shopping carts are still being abandoned on municipal and private property.

If a resident finds a discarded shopping cart, they should inspect the cart to identify where it came from, and then contact the owner of the shopping cart (grocery store, department store, etc).

NoFrills - 613-933-3562
Canadian Tire - 613-938-0888
FreshCo - 613-933-0295

However, if an errant shopping cart is found on municipal property (like park, courtyard, or parking lot), please contact Municipal Works to have it removed.

For further information regarding errant shopping carts, please contact Municipal Works at 613-932-5354.

 Yard Maintenance

The Yard Maintenance By-law sets standards for maintenance of exterior property including vegetation, waste, graffiti, front decks, open porches and carports within The City of Cornwall. The By-law is to ensure that all property owners must maintain and repair the exterior of their property in accordance with the standards of this By-law.

The Yard Maintenance By-law also addresses the physical building itself, and areas on and around the land or property.  Property owners are required to repair and maintain their property according to Yard Maintenance By-law 2013-212.

These standards are put in place to protect the health and safety of residents as well as the general public.

Listed here are ONLY some of the standards included in this by-law:

1. Vegetation
2. Waste
3. Balconies and Carports
4. Graffiti
5. Farms
6. Health & Safety

 Property Standards

Our Property Standards By-Law sets standards for maintenance and occupancy of the properties within The City of Cornwall. The By-Law is to ensure that all property owners must maintain and repair the interior and exterior of their property in accordance with the standards of this By-Law.

The By-Law also addresses the physical building itself, and areas on and around the land or property.  Property owners are required to repair and maintain their property according to Property Standards By-law 2014-191.

These standards are put in place to protect the health and safety of residents as well as the general public.

The Property Standards By-Law covers a large number of subject areas such as damaged/unmaintained building interiors and exteriors, insufficient or failed heating systems, the safety of stairs, porches and ramps, etc.

Listed here are ONLY some of the standards included in this By-Law:

1. Grass and weeds are required to be maintained at a height of less than 6 inches.
2. Properties are required to be maintained free of accumulations of garbage, refuse or debris.
3. Buildings are to be maintained in a good condition, including the maintenance of roofs, windows, doors and eaves troughs.
4. Sheds and detached garages are to be maintained in good condition.
5. Rental properties are to be provided with working plumbing, heating and electrical services.

Upon receipt of a complaint, a By-Law Enforcement Officer will investigate to determine if a violation exists. The investigation may include any or all of the following actions:

1. Contacting the owner (and/or tenant) to confirm the complaint is accurate.
2. Visit the location/property to conduct an inspection to obtain confirmation of complaint.
3. Issuing verbal or written orders to the contraveners.

However, if you are a tenant that has concerns regarding poor maintenance of your home or apartment, first advise the landlord of your concerns in writing. This gives the landlord the opportunity to address the issue. If your concerns are not adequately addressed, register a complaint contact 613-930-2787 ext. 2310.

 Snow Removal

Snow removal is governed by several different by-laws.

Snow cannot be shovelled or blown onto the street or sidewalk. (Read the Streets By-law for more information.) To report an issue, please call 613-930-2787 ext. 2224 or click here to report a problem.

There is no by-law prohibiting snow being thrown onto a neighbour's property. This is a civil matter.

Snow blowers are exempted from the Noise By-law.

 Vacant Buildings 

The By-Law defines a “Vacant Building” as any Building that has not been occupied, for at least sixty (60) days, by the Owner of the Building or a person authorized by the Owner and that, by reason of its damaged, dilapidated and/or unfinished condition, is open to the elements or is in a state such that there is no control over unauthorized entry to the Building.

Section 3 of the By-Law essentially requires that vacant building properties must be registered with the Building and By-Law Division and that the building be secured against unauthorized human entry and rodent/wildlife entry.

Registration involves the following:

As per Section 4 of the By-Law, “Applications and Renewals”:

• A completed registration application form;

• Registration fees and payment; and

• Appropriate building plans scaled, detailed and accurate enough to show and identify room layouts and uses, exit stair locations and such.

As per Section 7 of the By-Law, “boarding-up” means appropriately securing the building by:

 Scheduling an inspection with a By-Law Enforcement Officer and Fire Prevention Officer;

• Paying the Inspection fees (Schedule “A” attached);

• Boarding-up the building to Section 7 By-Law Standards.

If you have any questions or require further information contact 613-930-2787 ext. 2310

Vital Services

A vital service is the provision of fuel, hydro, gas or water. 

If Landlord pays for the service: 

For a rental unit, every landlord is required to provide vital services such as fuel, hydro, gas, or water. If the landlord of a rental unit is obligated to pay for a vital service and has breached a contract with the supplier of the vital service for failure to pay, the provider can discontinue the vital service.

However, the City Clerk must be notified in writing by the service provider at least 30 days prior to the discontinuation of the service. If the City receives a notice indicating service will be discontinued, the owner of the property will be issued a warning letter from ML&S regarding the discontinuation of vital services, the requirements under the bylaw and the outcome for failure to comply.

If the service is discontinued without advance notice to the City Clerk, the Building and By-Law Department will contact the service provider and the owner of the property and the service may be re-instated. A property owner can cut off a vital service for any rental unit under the following scenarios: 

1. A landlord may cease to provide a vital service only when such cessation is necessary to alter or repair and only for the minimum period necessary to effect the alteration or repair; or
2. A public utility may cease to provide a vital service if the tenant has expressly agreed to obtain and maintain the vital services.

If private property owners or tenants who pays for the vital service:

If a private property owner or tenant has agreed to obtain and maintain the vital service (gas, water, hydro), then the property owner or tenant is responsible for contacting the service provider and making arrangements to restore the service.

The Building and By-Law Department does not investigate situations where the tenant is responsible for paying for the service and it has been discontinued as a result of non-payment. 

Suppliers of Vital Services

A supplier of a vital service cannot cease to provide the vital service to a rental unit unless notice of the intended discontinuance of the vital service has been given in writing to the City Clerk at least 30 days before the supplier ceases to provide the vital service.