What are the rules on junk, derelict cars, and unsightly property?
In the Township of Warwick, Ontario, standards: No owner shall fail to clear land of domestic/industrial refuse; weeds/grass over 20cm prohibited in built-up areas; derelict vehicles, open excavations, accumulated water over 30cm depth prohibited.; enforcement: By-law Enforcement Officer issues registered mail notice; if non-compliant, municipality hires contractor to remediate at owner's expense; costs added to tax bill if unpaid.; standards: Yards must be free of litter, rubbish, waste, salvage, refuse, decaying trees, and conditions creating health, fire, accident hazards or unsightly conditions; no outdoor storage of non-immediate-use materials.; enforcement: Order to comply issued; if non-compliant, municipality performs work at owner's cost (100% of work cost + 25% admin fee), recoverable by action or added to tax roll.. Source: Cleaning and Clearing of Land By-Law; Property Standards By-Law, verified 2026-06-09.
Cleaning and Clearing of Land By-Law
adopted bylaw
standards
No owner shall fail to clear land of domestic/industrial refuse; weeds/grass over 20cm prohibited in built-up areas; derelict vehicles, open excavations, accumulated water over 30cm depth prohibited.
s. 3.1, s. 3.3, s. 8.1, s. 7.1
enforcement
By-law Enforcement Officer issues registered mail notice; if non-compliant, municipality hires contractor to remediate at owner's expense; costs added to tax bill if unpaid.
s. 9.4, s. 10.1, Schedule "A" para. 12-13
scout note
Official Warwick cleaning and clearing of land by-law linked from the by-laws page.
Property Standards By-Law
adopted bylaw
standards
Yards must be free of litter, rubbish, waste, salvage, refuse, decaying trees, and conditions creating health, fire, accident hazards or unsightly conditions; no outdoor storage of non-immediate-use materials.
s. 2.02 — "objects or conditions that might create a health, fire, accident hazard or unsightly condition"; s. 2.03
enforcement
Order to comply issued; if non-compliant, municipality performs work at owner's cost (100% of work cost + 25% admin fee), recoverable by action or added to tax roll.
s. 8.03(2) — "municipality may cause the required work to be done at the cost of the person"; Schedule 'A' — "100% of the … work … plus a further administrative fee of an additional 25%"
scout note
Official Warwick property standards by-law linked from the frequently requested by-laws page.