The following is a brief and legal summary of the City of Markham's Property Standards By-law taken from the City's By-law Guide for Markham Homeowners.
It explains, in plain language and with information links, what residents must know about specific City services and operations, which may affect a Markham homeowners' property.
Markham’s beautiful neighbourhoods are a source of pride for residents. The Property Standards By-law (2017-26) ensures that owners properly maintain their homes and properties so that our neighbourhoods will always be attractive, safe and healthy places in which to live. These rules apply to both owned and rented dwellings.
The yard around every home must be kept neat and tidy, and free of garbage or anything that might cause a health or safety danger. The earth must be covered with either grass and plants or a covering that is designed to stop the soil from blowing or draining away. Grass must be trimmed to grow no higher than 15 centimetres (6”). Trees and bushes must also be kept trimmed and tidy.
The side or back of your property is suitable for neatly stored supplies, such as firewood, building materials and gardening equipment. Unsafe or large, unattractive piles of materials must be removed. Temporary storage of materials from ongoing construction work on your property is allowed, but this must not exceed 15% of your back or side yard. You must ensure that you clear out this area as often as possible, and that the materials are kept in such a way that they do not pose a health or safety risk.
If you own a composter or compost heap, keep it in such a condition that it does not smell strongly and will not attract insects or rodents such as mice or rats. See Waste Management By-law Summary for more information about garbage removal and Mission Green).
Your home’s plumbing is designed to carry waste and water from toilets, sinks and tubs safely underground, and must not be altered so that this waste pours onto the surface of your yard.
Water coming off your roof must be made to drain away from your house and off your property, but not onto sidewalks, stairs or a neighbour’s property. Make sure the downspout drains into a paved channel or is extended along the ground to drain at least 1.2 metres (4’) away from the side of your home. See Standing Water By-law Summary and Site Alteration By-law Summary for more information about water drainage.
Keep your roof repaired so that it is watertight and remove dangerous amounts of snow or ice. Make sure that eavestroughs, gutters and downspouts, and any sewer openings on your property, are cleared and in good repair.
The City requires that every part of a home or apartment, inside and outside, be kept well repaired and structurally sound so that the house is safe, watertight and free of rodents and insects at all times.
The exterior must be kept in good repair and painted or maintained so it looks attractive. Windows must either be double glazed (two panes of glass) or fitted with a second, storm window in cold weather. The temperature in the home must be a minimum of 16ºC (62ºF) at night, from 11:00 PM until 6:00 AM the next morning, and 20ºC (68ºF) between 6:00 AM and 11:00 PM.
For more information call the By-law Enforcement and Licensing Department at 905-479-7782 or email customerservice@markham.ca.