By-Laws

This By-Law regulates the keeping of backyard hens under the provisions of Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990. 

For more information please review the Backyard Hens By-Law 012-2021.

For more information about the zoning of your property, please refer to the Zoning By-Law Information section below.

Residents wishing to make a complaint for excessive barking, failure to pick up waste matter or dog(s) running at large must submit a signed written complaint.  Tags are required for all dogs by January 1^st of each year. Dog tags are available at the Administration Office at 35 Alice Street, Brighton.

For more information please review the Dog Control By-Law 052-2020.

This By-Law addresses litter, yard waste and maintenance of properties. Residents are reminded to keep their grass cut to an acceptable length, remove any noxious weeds on their property and remove any garbage that may be unsightly, unsafe or a health issue. The Northumberland County dump accepts hazardous materials including house hold batteries. Please refer to the county website or calendar for the dates.  For more information please review the Clean Yard By-Law 029-2012.

This By-Law controls and regulates the type of fences in the Municipality of Brighton. For more information, please review the Fence By-Law 003-2021.

Line Fence Disputes

A line fence is a fence that marks the boundary between an owner’s land and a neighbour’s land. The provincial Line Fences Act provides a procedure for arbitrating a dispute between neighbouring landowners where one owner wants to construct, repair or maintain a fence on the common boundary, but is unable to reach an agreement with the other owners on:

• The type of fence to be erected, and/or
• The sharing of the costs of a fence.

Before beginning the line fence arbitration process, the owner seeking the arbitration should contact their neighbours to attempt to reach an agreement.

If the landowners cannot agree, the attendance of the fence viewer can be requested to adjudicate on the matter. Under the Line Fences Act, the fence viewers may only be requested in two situations:

• Where no fence currently exists at the boundary between the two properties, and one owner wants a new fence to be constructed to mark the boundary.
• Where a line fence already exists, and one owner believes that it needs to be reconstructed or repaired and the owners cannot reach a mutual agreement.

Fence viewers cannot adjudicate fence disputes when construction has already begun or if there is a dispute about the location of the property line.

How to Apply:

1. Complete Form 1 – Request for Fence Viewers.
2. Submit the completed form to the Office of the Municipal Clerk and fee via one of the following methods. The fee is $180.00 + HST.

Once the Municipal Clerk has received the completed application and the required fee has been paid, a date and time for hearing the arbitration will be set. Owners will be notified by the City Clerk and the three fence viewers at least one week in advance of the hearing. The daily rate of remuneration per fence viewer is $60.00 + HST.

Fence viewings will not be completed between Nov. 1 of one year and March 31 of the next year. 

Application process during COVID-19

During COVID-19, the following options are available for submission:

By Mail

1. Mail the completed form and a certified cheque or money order, payable to the Municipality of Brighton, to:

Municipal Clerk

Municipality of Brighton

P.O. Box 189

Brighton, ON K0K 1H0

1. Include your contact information - telephone number and/or email address - so that we can contact you in the event there is an issue with your submission.

By Email

1. Email the completed form to cdoiron@brighton.ca
2. Fee payment can be made by credit card through the municipal website. A link will be provided on request.

This By-Law controls and regulates the dumping and moving of fill in the Municipality of Brighton. All residents will need to contact the Municipality before moving any large amounts of fill or topsoil. Municipal Staff will determine if a Fill permit will be required before any activity can begin. For more information please review the Fill By-Law 114-2016. Prior to submitting an application, please contact the By-law Officer.

Noise By-Law 118-2017 

If you would like to make a Noise Complaint or apply for an exemption please see the Noise section of the Applications, Forms, Licenses, and Permits page.

Residents are reminded they are prohibited from parking in the following areas: Sidewalks, Municipal Boulevards, parking on the opposite side of the road facing traffic, in an Accessible Parking spot without a permit, in front of a Fire Hydrant, overnight in a Municipal Parking lot, 10 meters within an intersection and in a signed “No Parking Zone”. Vehicles will be tagged and possibly towed if found in contravention of the Parking Control By-Law. Unpaid fines will be submitted to the Provincial Offences Court for request for plate denial.   

Copies of these By-Laws are available at the Public Works Office, 67 Sharp Road. Residents can also contact Allen Magee, By-Law Enforcement Officer 613-475-1162, ext. 121 or by email.

Parking By-Law 126-2016 amendments 092-2018, 109-2018, 125-2019, 126-2019

Mobile Canteen By-law 051-2020. 

Short-Term Accommodations (STA's)

The Municipality of Brighton has passed By-law 032-2022 pertaining to the Licensing of Short-Term Accommodations (STAs). An STA is a dwelling inhabited for 30 days or fewer per month.

The Licensing By-law regulates various aspects of different types of Short-Term Accommodation rentals – e.g., Bed and Breakfast Establishments, Whole-home rental, or Owner-occupied rental of a guest room. Provisions of the STA Licensing By-law govern a permit application system that addresses public health and safety standards, parking issues, nuisance management issues, among other public interest matters.

If you are an STA operator, you can request a copy of the STA Guidelines & License Application. Existing operators are required to have an approved license permit issued by December 2, 2022. Persons who are proposing new operations may be considered for a license application beginning January 2023.

If you have any need for additional information, clarifications, or questions, please feel free to contact the Municipality of Brighton Office. 613-475-1162, ext. 103, Email: planning@brighton.ca 

This By-Law regulates and controls discharge to the municipal sewer system. Sump Pumps are not permitted to be connected to the sanitary drains on any property. Sump Pumps are also not permitted to be discharged either directly or indirectly in the storm sewer catch basins. Any work performed by Municipal Staff to correct any violations will be invoiced to the property owner for the cost of the work performed. For more information please review the Sewer Use By-Law 127-2016.

This By-Law regulates and restricts the unnecessary use of water for outside purposes within the serviced area of the Municipality of Brighton. Residents with odd numbered civic addresses may water on odd numbered calendar days of the month, and residents with even numbered civic addresses may water on even numbered calendar days of the month. Any residential property with a programmable underground sprinkler system shall water every other day provided the said sprinkler system is maintained in good working order.

For more information please review the Water Restriction By-Law 077-2016.

Residents, builders, developers and contractors are reminded that unauthorized operation of a water valve is prohibited within the Municipality of Brighton. If it is determined that a water valve has been tampered with, Municipal Staff will turn the valve off and the owner of the water valve will be invoiced $150 for work performed. Residents, builders, developers and contractors must call the Municipality to request that their water be turned on or shut off by the Water Department. Please contact the Public Works Department to schedule an appointment with the Water Department, 613-475-1162, ext. 107. 

For more information please review the Water Supply By-Law 119-2017.

Commonly residences will require Zoning and Official Plan information regarding property sales of their home, and/or prior to construction projects. 

To look up the Zoning of your property, these instructions will assist.

• Browse through the keymap under the Zoning By-law maps.  The key map will direct you to a secondary map magnified for this area.
• Once you locate your property on the secondary map, you will need to look for the Zone symbol lettering (ie. R1, R2, SHR, etc.) within the redlined boarders.  Most information is within Section 6 & 7.
• For the noted Zone symbol, refer to the Zoning By-law document and look-up the Sections applicable to that symbol.  Specific Exceptions (ie. R1-#) are found in Section 8 - Special Zone Categories.   More General Provisions applicable to all Zones are found throughout in Section 4.

If you are experiencing difficulty, you are welcome to complete a Request of Information (or a Compliance Letter) at this link https://forms.brighton.ca/Finance-Forms/Property-Information-Request-Form or with this request form.

See this information package for Additional (Secondary) Dwelling Units as a zoning and construction guide.

Some general inquiry questions can be made through email to: planning@brighton.ca or phone 613-475-1162 to speak to the Planner in the Public Works & Development building located at 67 Sharp Road.

Full Zoning By-Law Document

Section 1 - Administration

Section 2 - Definitions

Section 3 - Establishment of Zones

Section 4 - General Provisions

Section 5 - Parking and Loading Standards

Section 8 - Special Zone Categories Site and Area Specific Provisions

Section 9 - Enactment and Appendices

Full Map Appendices

Please refer to the Key Map for the maps below. These maps may be subject to change and, thus, the version of the maps issued by the Municipal Clerk is the official version.