Timmins City Council has approved a new vacant building by-law and registry to hold property owners accountable for managing their vacant properties.
By-law No. 2024-8929 will require property owners with buildings that have been vacant for more than 30 days, to register with the City of Timmins and confirm that the property is being maintained and is effectively protected from unauthorized entry, risk of fire, accident, or other danger, and is compliant with the City’s standard property by-laws and regulations.
The Vacant Building By-law was an idea brought forward by Council last October, after researching what other communities were doing to reduce empty and derelict buildings. Council believes that enforcement will help mitigate problems often associated with vacant properties such as garbage, graffiti, vandalism, and other public nuisances.
The cost of initial registration is $300 per property for one year, increasing to $600 if the vacant building has remained on the registry for 12 months. Property owners will also risk fines for a number of offences, including allowing the property to remain vacant for a period exceeding a year, failure to maintain insurance on the building, and failure to protect the building from unauthorized entry.
“The vacant building by-law and registry is designed to improve the condition, safety, and maintenance of empty buildings in the community, some of which have already raised concerns from neighbours and residents,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We would like to see property owners improve the state of their empty buildings for occupancy, or allow the space to be repurposed for housing infill or regeneration. This can be one more solution to improve access to affordable housing.”
The City’s Vacant Building By-law came into effect February 27, 2024. Property owners can contact Service Timmins for further information.