HomeMy Public PortalAboutBy-law 2023-87 Reduction of Water and Sewer in Vacant UnitsCORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF TWEED
BY-LAW NO. 2023-87
Being a By -Law to Adopt a Policy for the Reduction of Water and Sewer Charges for
Vacant Units in Multi -Unit Buildings in the Municipality of Tweed, and to Repeal
By-Iaw No, 2006-39.
WHEREAS the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, gives general
authority for councils to adopt policies;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Tweed deems it
expedient to adopt a policy to provide for the reduction of water and sewer charges
for vacant units in multi -unit buildings in the Municipality of Tweed;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Tweed
enacts as follows:
1. THAT the Policy for Reduction of Water and Sewer Charges for Vacant Units
attached hereto as Schedule 'A' to this By-Iaw is hereby adopted as the Policy
for the Reduction of Water and Sewer Charges for Vacant Units in Multi -Unit
Buildings in the Municipality of Tweed.
2. THAT Schedule `A' forms part of this By-Iaw.
3. THAT By-law No. 2006-39 is hereby repealed in its entirety.
4. THAT this By-Iaw shall come into force and take effect immediately upon the
passing thereof by the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Tweed.
Read a first, second, and third and final time, passed, signed, and sealed in open
Council this 14th day of November, 2023.
MAYOR
Schedule 'A' to By-law No. 2023-87
Corporation of the
Municipality of Tweed
Policy for Reduction of Water and Sewer
Charges for Vacant Units
This Policy for the Reduction of Water and Sewer Charges for Vacant Units in multi -unit
buildings within the Municipality of Tweed is issued under the authority of the Council of
the Corporation of the Municipality of Tweed in accordance with By-law No. 2023-87
dated November 14, 2023.
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The Corporation of the Municipality of Tweed
Policy for Reduction of Water and Sewer Charges for Vacant Units
in Multi -Unit Buildings
This policy sets out the provisions for inactivation of water and sewer accounts or
reduction of times factors on water and sewer accounts for vacant units in multi -unit
residential and commercial buildings in the Municipality of Tweed.
Definitions
For the purposes of this policy, multi -unit residential and commercial buildings refers to
residential and commercial buildings which have one or more units available as rental
units, as a residential dwelling unit or commercial premises, to a member of the public
other than the owner of the building. For water and sewer billing purposes, the multi -unit
residential and commercial buildings referred to in this policy may have a separate
water meter and corresponding account for each unit or may have one water meter
serving the entire building and a times factor attached to the account equal to the
number of available rental or living units in the building.
This policy does not pertain to temporary water service disconnections for the purpose
of vacancies by property owners, for which the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 of the
Municipality of Tweed By-law No. 2005-51, as amended or replaced from time to time,
shall continue to apply.
Relationship to Other Policies
This policy does not override any other policy or by-law of the Municipality of Tweed,
including, but not limited to, By-law No. 2005-51, as amended or replaced from time to
time, and By-law No. 2023-86, as amended or replaced from time to time, the provisions
of which shall continue to apply in conjunction with this policy.
Inactivation of Accounts
The following procedures shall be undertaken for making inactive a water and sewer
account, or for reducing the times factor on a water and sewer account, for vacant units.
1. Property owner makes written application to the Municipality, on specific form
provided, for inactivation of water and sewer account, or reduction of times factor
on water and sewer account, for one or more vacant units in a building.
2. Application reviewed by municipal staff; current water and sewer account times
factor confirmed; application deemed complete.
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3. Water and sewer account is adjusted for the appropriate number of vacant units
by one of the following methods:
a. Water and sewer account is made inactive if vacant unit has a separate
account.
b. Times factor on water and sewer account is reduced by the number of
vacant units.
4. Minimum time period of vacancy of unit(s) for consideration of water and sewer
account adjustment is three months.
5. Maximum benefit for vacancy of unit(s) is six months.
6. Adjustment of water and sewer account to be effective with the next regular
quarterly billing date following receipt of an application.
7. No provisions for retroactive adjustments of water and sewer charges applied to
vacant units.
8. With every billing cycle, the owner shall provide in writing confirmation of the
continued vacancy by the last day of the billing cycle. Failure to receive this
confirmation will result in vacancy reduction cancellation and the regular full rate
shall apply.
Reactivation of Accounts
The following procedures shall be undertaken for reactivating a water and sewer
account, or for increasing the times factor, upon occupancy of a previously vacated unit.
1. Property owner provides written notification to the Municipality, on specific form
provided, of date of occupancy of previously vacated unit(s).
2. Water and sewer account is adjusted for the appropriate number of re -occupied
units by one of the following methods:
a. Water and sewer account is reactivated if vacant unit previously had a
separate account.
b. Times factor on water and sewer account is increased by the number of
previously vacant units now occupied.
3. Adjustment of water and sewer account to be effective with the date of
occupancy.
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Penalty for Non -Compliance
The following provisions shall apply where a vacant unit becomes occupied without
notification by the property owner to the Municipality.
1. Property owner is responsible for notifying the Municipality of occupancy of
previously vacated unit(s).
2. Where a property owner fails to notify the Municipality that a previously vacated
unit(s) for which a water and sewer account adjustment has been made becomes
occupied, the property owner shall be billed for water and sewer charges on that
account as if the unit had not been vacant.
3. For the purposes of the preceding section, the water and sewer charges shall be
billed at the minimum charge and will apply for the entire period for which water
and sewer charges were reduced.
4. The Municipality's policy for the collection of water and sewer arrears shall be
followed for the collection of water and sewer charges applied as a penalty for
failure to notify of occupied unit(s).
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