By-law Enforcement

Your pets are members of our community and we want them to be safe and enjoy living in Selwyn Township. Our Animal Control By-law keeps our community and companion animals safe by making sure pet owners understand their responsibilities.

You can report violations of Township By-laws including the Animal Control By-law and Stoop and Scoop By-law online. 

Visit our Animal Control page to learn more.

The Noise By-law regulates noise, vibration, odour, dust and outdoor illumination, including indoor lighting that can be seen outdoors.

Important Reminders:

• Be a good neighbour and remember you can be charged at any time of the day in the event you are creating noise that is disruptive to others.
• If you experience disturbing/excessive noise, report to the appropriate police service.
• Fireworks at individual properties can generate unwanted noise, and disturb pets and wild life.

The Clean Property By-law regulates conditions on private property that may become a public nuisance. This includes matters such as long grass and weeds, the accumulation of waste, outdoor storage, and discarded or inoperative vehicles.

The Property Standards By-law establishes minimum standards for the maintenance and occupancy of residential and non-residential properties. It helps ensure buildings and properties are safe, structurally sound, and properly maintained to protect the health, safety, and well-being of residents.

The Comprehensive Zoning By-law regulates how land can be used and establishes standards for the location, size, and use of buildings and structures throughout Selwyn Township. It helps guide orderly development and compatible land use within the community.

The Encumbering By-law helps protect Township-owned property by regulating activities that obstruct, damage, or interfere with the use of municipal lands, roads, parks, and other public property.

The Fence By-law prescribes standards for the construction and maintenance of fences. It helps ensure fences are safe, properly maintained, and compatible with surrounding properties.

By-law officers are responsible for enforcing Township By-laws that regulate the licencing of refreshment vehicles, trailer or tourist camps, and rooming houses.

A full list of licence application forms is available on our Forms, Applications and Permits page. 

This includes property line disputes, neighbour disputes, and tree-related disputes.

• File Small Claims Court Documents Online

For concerns involving trespassing, threats, or other criminal matters, contact the Police.

For fire safety concerns, contact the Selwyn Township Fire Department at 705-292-7282.

Drone incidents can be reported to Transport Canada.

Noxious weeds within the road allowance are the responsibility of Peterborough County. Any noxious weed on private property is to be maintained by the property owner. 

To report sightings of noxious weeds, please notify Peterborough County by filling out the Report an Issue form.

The use of pesticides is regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

The Township does not regulate the trimming of trees or hedges on private property. Concerns about trees on municipal property can be reported online.

The Ontario Forestry Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. F.26) is a provincial law that outlines rules for forest management, agreements with private landowners, and the legal status of boundary trees.

Section 10 of the Act governs trees whose trunks sit on property lines between neighbors.

Trees on property lines:

10 (1) An owner of land may, with the consent of the owner of adjoining land, plant trees on the boundary between the two lands.

Trees common property:

(2) Every tree whose trunk is growing on the boundary between adjoining lands is the common property of the owners of the adjoining lands.

Overhanging branches:

If possible, it is always best to discuss concerns about branches that overhang the property line and come to an agreement with your neighbour before hiring a qualified tree expert or taking on the work yourself. If you are unable to reach an agreement with your neighbour and want to determine your legal rights, you should contact a lawyer. The act of pruning trees on neighbouring private property affects private property rights and is a civil issue between private property owners.

• You cannot trespass onto your neighbour's property
• You cannot permanently damage your neighbour's property (trees); and
• You have the right to maintain your property in a safe condition