Introduction
The goal of Bylaw Services is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the citizens of Merritt.
This is accomplished by:
- Handling all complaints and investigations fairly and impartially
- Responding to citizen concerns and inquiries in a timely fashion
- Resolving issues through compliance
We do not respond to anonymous complaints. Complainants must be willing to provide their name, address and telephone number, as well as the nature of the complaint (including date and time of the incident being reported).
We do not provide the complainant’s identity; this is kept confidential unless the matter is referred to court. In that case, the complainant must be willing to testify and/or provide requried affidavits.
The Bylaw Department does its best to enforce all city bylaws proactively, fairly and effectively. We are limited in our efforts by the size of the city, limited resources and number of bylaws. We rely on our citizens to be good neighbours and to comply with bylaws designed to make Merritt a better place for all. Our regulatory bylaws are available on this website and bylaws are available at City Hall.
The Bylaw Department is also your first contact in setting up a business in Merritt, and processes Business Licence applications. The Bylaw Department is a part of the Corporate Services division headed by the Director of Corporate Services.
Animal Control
In Merritt, you may have up to two (2) dogs, and up to (2) two cats per residence (a residence includes any secondary suite). Bylaw Services may, upon request, allow an owner to have more than two (2) dogs in exceptional circumstances.
If you live in an area zoned Agricultural, you may keep livestock, fur-bearing animals or poultry.
Licences
The City of Merritt requires that all dogs hold a valid licence. Licences may be purchased through our official licensing partner, DocuPet, online at www.merritt.docupet.com.
Dog licenses no longer expire on January 1st; licenses will now expire 365 days after the initial purchase date. Dog licence tags must be affixed to their collar and visible at all times.
In addition to your pet’s official licence, DocuPet also provides:
- Full access to the HomeSafe™ 24/7 lost pet service
- A selection of over 160 designer tag options that double as your pet’s official licence
- A central dashboard for your pet’s medical records and information
- A quick and easy online solution for purchasing and renewing your pet’s licence
The licence tag must be affixed to the dog’s collar and worn at all times. If your dog is found off your property and not under control, there is a $50 fine which increases with each offence. At any time, being found with an unlicensed dog can be a $50 fine. By having your dog licenced, we will be able to reunite you with your pet.
Pet licence fees are as follows:
| For any neutered or spayed dog | $24 |
| For any un-neutered or unspayed dog | $50 |
| Lost tag replacement | $10 |
Licences are available online at www.merritt.docupet.com and allows you to register online, by mail, or by phone. You will need to provide a vet certificate to prove that the animal has been spayed or neutered – you only have to show this certificate once.
Regulations
Dogs must be kept on a leash and under the control of a competent person at all times when in public. If your animal is found running at large, Bylaw Services will bring your dog to the City pound facility, and while your animal will receive good care (and even veterinary attention if required), you will be subject to fines, impoundment fees and expenses.
“Guests” at the pound are kept for 72 hours. If you can be traced as the owner, you will be notified with instructions on how to reclaim your pet and any required fees. After three days pets may be sold, adopted out, or sadly, destroyed.
Under the City bylaw, if your dog threatens or bites a person or another animal, it may be designated an Aggressive or a Dangerous Dog. Under this designation annual licence fees increase to $100 (Aggressive) or $500 (Dangerous) and the dog must be kept securely confined and/or muzzled, and meet other conditions.
Please clean up after your dog. Our bylaws require that you scoop that poop and dispose of it appropriately. Failure to do so can result in a fine.
Female dogs in heat must be confined indoors or in an enclosure where she cannot escape or have unwanted visitors.
For more information, please read the Animal Control Bylaw
Animal Shelter
The City does not have an animal shelter. We do operate a pound. The pound is for dealing with animals in contravention of the City bylaw only. Unfortunately we do not have the resources to deal with puppies, cats, kittens or other adoption services, or with mistreated animals. We rely on service from the Kamloops SPCA – they can be contacted at (250) 376-7722.
Controlled Substance and Property Use
The City of Merritt has a Controlled Substance Bylaw. In short, what this means is that if the City discovers that your property is being used to manufacture or grow controlled substances (grow-ops, meth labs etc), the City can prohibit the building from being occupied and require the property owner to bring the property back up to standard. The fines are expensive, as inspections start at $500 per inspection and special environmental cleaners will likely be required. All property owner’s are responsible for knowing what is going on in their premises and are responsible for meeting City bylaws, as such the City recommends that landlords regularly inspect their properties
Council is committed to keeping our city safe, clean and drug-free.
Noise Control
The City of Merritt Good Neighbour Bylaw is meant to ensure the peaceable enjoyment of our community. That means no construction noise (including lawnmowers and chainsaws) before 7 am or after 10 pm Contractors wishing to take advantage of early morning and late afternoon temperatures can apply to the Public Works Manager for a temporary extension of construction hours. In this process, the affected neighbours are notified so that they know how long the “nuisance” will continue on for.
Properties in the Heavy Industrial M2 zone are exempt from the prohibitions. These companies do want to be good corporate citizens, however, and so if the plant or mill next to you seems to producing excessive noise, please give them a call directly to see what can be done. Sometimes it is a temporary machine malfunction already scheduled for repair.
The Good Neighbour Bylaw asks that you keep your radio and stereo down to a reasonable level, and to keep your animals quiet and under control.
What do you do if your neighbour isn’t complying? Try talking to them first.
Most issues are best resolved face to face. After working hours noise problems can be reported to the RCMP. And if the problem is consistent and persistent, let Bylaw Enforcement know; before you call, keep a log of the date/times when the noise was excessive, type of noise, conditions (windows open?closed?) These logs are vital for Bylaw to prosecute the matter.
Fines for Noise Violations are $100 per offence.
Street Entertainment
Busking and Street Entertainers require permits
Trucks & Traffic Issues
The Street & Traffic Bylaw deals with a variety of issues from parking to truck routes. Traffic issues are also governed by the Motor Vehicle Act – things like parking the wrong way being illegal, as is parking against a yellow curb – and are enforced by Bylaw and the RCMP. Note the RCMP’s fines are considerably higher!
Trucks
Trucks over 16000 kg gross vehicle weight must travel on the City’s designated truck route.
Trucks may divert off the truck route when they are making a delivery, but they are to use access points closest to the truck route and to have a delivery slip or waybill showing the address they are traveling to. Local contractors with multiple deliveries over 75 cu meters of goods for a single address may apply to Bylaw Enforcement for a preferred route off the truck route.
Trucks over 16000 kg gvw are not allowed to park in P zones (i.e. near churches or schools). They are allowed to park in residential areas only with a permit. Details of the permitting system are contained in the Street & Traffic Bylaw. Basically you are to apply for a permit to City Hall and then apply to renew the permit annually. There is no charge for the permit.
The permit requires that you obtain the consent of your neighbours and the permit may be revoked if there are complaints. Only one permit will be issued per address and the permits are not transferrable. Permits must be prominently displayed in the truck to avoid being fined. Fines are $150 per offence.
RVs
RVs are permitted to park in residential streets only for a two hour limit. In some areas of the City, the boulevard area is suitable for RV parking, but this is on a Permit Only basis. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer will inspect the proposed parking area for such things as traffic visibility impediments before giving approval. The RV Parking on Boulevard application also requires the consent of neighbours both on either side and facing across the street.
Skates & Bicycles
Skateboards, bicycles, inline skates and rollerskates/blades, foot-propelled scooters and similar devices are not allowed on sidewalks in the downtown area. Riders risk confiscation and impoundment of their wheels as well as a fine.
Parades
We love parades! But before you have one, please be sure to apply for a permit from the Public Works Department.
Parade Application Form must include a map of the proposed parade route and must be submitted at least 2 weeks prior to event so that all the appropriate authorities can be notified.
Unsightly Premises
We all want Merritt to be the best it can be and a tidy home, yard and neighbourhood helps us put our best foot forward. Unfortunately, not everyone works to the same level, and the City regulates our appearance through the Good Neighbour Bylaw.
The Good Neighbour Bylaw requires that you keep your property and adjoining boulevard/lane from becoming unsightly. This means:
- NO garbage or junk lying around (including ashes, dead animals, furniture, bedding, crockery, glass, bags, old appliances, tin cans, cardboard, paper and so forth)
- NO accumulation of mechanical equipment, including bulldozers, graders, backhoes etc., or other heavy construction equipment (unless your property is zoned for it)
- NO out of control grass and weeds (must be under 20 cm high) and no dead landscaping
- NO holes, breaks, rot, crumbling, peeling paint, rusting walls or houses that show physical decay, neglect and lack of maintenance
- NO more than two unlicensed but operable vehicles
- NO derelict vehicles of any kind (if it can’t be driven, it is derelict)
- NO grafitti
- NO broken down or leaning fences
- NO pools of stagnant water
A reminder that the boulevard and lane adjoining your property is also your responsibility. Property owners are also responsible for keeping these areas cleared of snow within 24 hours of a snowfall in residential areas and by 10 am in commercial areas.
Property owners are responsible for ensuring that shrubs and trees do not impede passage or visibility on sidewalks and roads.
The City is proactive in its enforcement of the Good Neighbour Bylaw. When we notice a property that is not meeting standards, the Bylaw Enforcement Officer will take a photograph and send it along with a letter to the property owner requesting clean up. If the property has not been brought up to standard by the stated date, the City may undertake the work required and the property owner will be billed for the cost of the work along with an additional 15% administrative charge. Unpaid costs are added to the property taxes at the end of the year. The City also has the option of prosecuting uncooperative property owners in court.