Bylaw Enforcement Services

At the MD of Pincher Creek, our goal is to foster a safe, respectful and welcoming community.  Our Bylaw Enforcement priorities are centered on education, voluntary compliance and fair enforcement  of our municipal bylaws – ensuring that residents understand the rules and work with us to uphold them.

Bylaw Enforcement Officer Authority

MD Pincher Creek Enforcement Services CPOs are also appointed as Bylaw Enforcement Officers (BEOs) for the municipality.  BEOs have the authority to enforce all municipal bylaws within the geographic boundaries of the municipality.

BEOs respond to and investigate complaints involving issues such as:

• Nuisance and/or Unsightly properties
• Animal control (run at large, barking, aggression)
• Traffic Bylaw / Parking 

Our Approach to Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement

We follow a progressive enforcement model which includes education and a collaborative approach to working with our residents, businesses and visitors with the end goal of achieving compliance with our municipal bylaws. 
 
Should this collaborative approach not result in compliance, the progressive enforcement model also includes enforcement tools and actions that the officer may utilize in order to ensure compliance with municipal legislation. 
 
Here is how this progressive model works:

• Education and Awareness  -  Our officer provides clear information about bylaws through community outreach, online resources and direct communication.

• Voluntary Compliance  -  When a bylaw concern arises, we encourage residents, businesses and visitors to take corrective action before formal enforcement steps are taken.

• Issuance of Orders – When voluntary compliance is not forthcoming, the officer may issue Remedial Orders, Orders to Remedy or other legal documents providing clear directions and a timeline to bring the contravention into compliance

• Issuance of Violation Tickets  -  The BEO has the ability to issue provincial violation tickets for bylaw infractions

• Remediation Actions  -  The municipality, following the issuance of Orders and/or violation tickets and where the contravention is not corrected by the responsible person, may initiate remedial actions to correct contraventions.  When this occurs, the person responsible for the contravention or owner of the property involved is responsible for any associated costs.

Serious or Dangerous Bylaw Infractions

If a particular Bylaw infraction is deemed very serious or dangerous, the BEO may take an enforcement-first approach in response.  For example:  Dog bites, attacks and the like will result in immediate enforcement actions, which may include seizure of dogs, issuance of tickets and applications to the Courts respecting Dangerous Dogs.