Prince Township Owners Face New Cleanup Fees Under Bylaw Changes

UPDATE: Property owners in Prince Township will now face significant financial penalties for neglecting yard maintenance. The township council has just passed Bylaw 2025-38, imposing fees for property inspections and cleanups related to refuse and hazardous items, effective immediately.

Under this new legislation, homeowners who receive a property standards order but fail to comply will incur substantial costs. A fee of $500 is now required to appeal any property standards order, except in cases where the order is completely quashed. Additionally, $100 will be charged for each inspection carried out by the township’s bylaw enforcement officer, Frank Bentrovato.

If the municipality must handle the cleanup, property owners will be billed $150 plus the actual cost of the cleanup work. Should cleanup expenses exceed $600, the fee will escalate to 25 percent of the total cost. Unpaid fees will be added directly to the owner’s tax bill, escalating the financial burden on non-compliant residents.

In related news, the council has also approved Bylaw 2025-41, which provides property tax relief of up to $100 for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Eligible participants include seniors receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement and homeowners on the Ontario Disability Support Program. This relief will apply if the homeowner’s combined residential and educational taxes increase by over $30 compared to the previous year. Homeowners must submit a written application to the township’s treasurer, verifying their eligibility.

In a proactive move towards community safety, the council authorized the purchase of new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment for the Prince Township Volunteer Fire Department. This essential equipment, procured from A.J. Stone Co. Ltd. in Vaughn, Ontario, will cost $163,847. Funding for this purchase will come from a $210,000 loan from the Ontario Infrastructure and Land Corporation, which will be repaid over five years.

Additionally, the council has accepted a recommendation from Steve Hemsworth, the township’s fire chief, to donate expired firefighting equipment to Firefighters Without Borders. This initiative aims to support remote communities lacking essential firefighting resources.

These recent developments underscore the council’s commitment to maintaining property standards and supporting vulnerable community members. For homeowners in Prince Township, immediate action is required to avoid hefty fines. Stay tuned for updates on compliance rates and community responses to these new bylaws.