Thank you to those who participated in this engagement. You can learn more about this project below, or subscribe to Participate Wood Buffalo to stay connected (or get involved) with future engagement projects impacting our region.

Good neighbours make great neighbourhoods!

UPDATE: The Community Standards Bylaw passed through its second and third reading before Council on May 11, 2021. The Bylaw was approved by Council during the same meeting. To learn more about the Bylaw, click here. Thank you for participating!

Did you know nearly 3,100 residents participated in the October 2020 Community Standards Bylaw Survey? We know this is important to you, and invite you to participate in the next stage of this Bylaw as it passes through Council.

The Community Standards Bylaw (CSB) passed its first reading on April 27, 2021, and second and third reading are expected to take place on May 11, 2021. Residents of the Wood Buffalo region are invited to share their feedback by registering to speak as delegate, or by submitting their written comments for review during the May 11 meeting.

What is the Community Standards Bylaw?

The CSB is an amalgamation and modernization of five existing Bylaws, which allows for residents to easily locate information about standards for neighborhood issues including noise, yard and property maintenance and nuisances. A copy of the Bylaw is available in the CSB Documents section of this web page.

What is included in the Bylaw?

The Community Standards Bylaw includes standards for neighborhood issues including noise, yard and property maintenance and nuisances. These Bylaws have been in effect in the region for many years, but are proposed to live in one document.

Once approved, the CSB will see the following repealed:

• Nuisance Property Bylaw No. 00/078
• Noise Bylaw No. 83/24
• Nuisance Weed Bylaw No. 91/05
• Public Disturbance Bylaw No. 02/11
• Multiple sections of the Roads and Transportation Bylaw No. 02/079

The addition of regulations for the following are also included:

• Idling: No Person shall cause or permit the idling of a parked vehicle in a residential area for more than 30 minutes at any time. 4.4.2. Section 4.4.1 applies to all vehicles, except for:
  • (a) an emergency vehicle; or
  • (b) when outside temperatures are above 30°C or below -20°C.
• Panhandling: A Person shall not engage in Panhandling:
  • (a) in a manner which obstructs or impedes the convenient passage of pedestrians or vehicles on a street, Sidewalk or within a Public Place;
  • (b) in such a manner as to threaten, insult, or harass other users of the street;
  • (c) from any Person who is an occupant of a Motor Vehicle; or
  • (d) from any Person who has already refused or declined the solicitation.
• Loitering: No Person shall loiter in any Public Place in a manner that obstructs or delays any other Person.
• Urination, defecation, and spitting in public: A Person shall not urinate, defecate or spit in a Public Place except in a facility designed and intended for such use.

How Can Residents Share Their Feedback?

Residents are invited to share their feedback by registering to speak as delegate at the second reading of the Bylaw on May 11, 2021. Alternatively, community members can share their feedback by submitting written comments online by clicking here or by emailing Legislative.Assistants@rmwb.ca. Your submission must include your full name and clearly indicate support or opposition of the proposed Bylaw and/or specified section of the proposed bylaw.

Registration deadline: May 10, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. MST

The Community Standards Bylaw Survey

This survey has concluded.