A Stronger, Cleaner and More Accountable Ward 5: First Full Year of Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program Completed

The first full year of the Ward 5 Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program has been completed, marking an important milestone in our ongoing efforts to improve neighbourhood conditions, strengthen by-law enforcement, and respond to the concerns raised by residents across Malton, Britannia Woods and the broader Ward 5 community.

Since its launch, the pilot program has provided additional enforcement resources and a more focused approach to addressing some of the issues that residents regularly bring to my office. From property standards and waste-related concerns to noise complaints and parking enforcement, the program has helped strengthen the City's ability to respond to neighbourhood issues and maintain the quality of life that residents deserve.

Between August 18, 2025, and July 31, 2026, the program recorded significant enforcement activity across three key municipal service areas: Property Standards, Investigations and Enforcement (PSIE), By-Law Compliance and Enforcement (BCE), and Parking Services (PS).

The results demonstrate the scale of work undertaken throughout the first year and provide an important foundation for understanding the enforcement needs of our community moving forward.

Delivering Results Across Ward 5

The Ward 5 Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program was established to provide additional attention to neighbourhood concerns and strengthen enforcement in areas where residents have identified ongoing challenges.

Throughout the reporting period, the program recorded:

• 1,810 property investigations conducted through Property Standards, Investigations and Enforcement.

• 1,121 property orders reported through the program's key performance metrics.

• 500 noise investigations initiated through By-Law Compliance and Enforcement.

• 6,895 parking service requests received and addressed through Parking Services.

• 32,984 parking tickets issued across Ward 5.

These numbers represent a substantial level of municipal enforcement activity throughout the year. More importantly, they reflect the City's continued work to respond to concerns that directly affect residents' everyday experiences in their neighbourhoods.

Whether it is addressing property maintenance, investigating noise complaints, responding to parking concerns, or following up on potential by-law violations, these services play an important role in maintaining safe, clean and welcoming communities.

Property Standards, Investigations and Enforcement (PSIE)

Property standards remain an important priority for residents throughout Ward 5. Concerns relating to property maintenance, long grass, waste management, lawn parking and other neighbourhood issues can have a direct impact on the appearance and overall enjoyment of our communities.

Through the pilot program, Property Standards, Investigations and Enforcement recorded 1,810 investigations during the reporting period.

The program's performance metrics also reported 1,121 orders issued, demonstrating the significant enforcement work undertaken to address property-related concerns.

The breakdown of orders by case type highlights the different areas where enforcement activity was concentrated.

Understanding the property enforcement numbers

The reported case-type breakdown included:

• Proactive Enforcement: 460 orders (41%)

• Condominium and Property Standards: 330 orders (30%)

• Long Grass: 210 orders (19%)

• Lawn Parking: 76 orders (7%)

• Waste Cart: 40 orders (4%)

Proactive enforcement represented the largest category, accounting for 41% of the orders in the case-type breakdown. This category includes a variety of violations identified through proactive enforcement activity across the different case types covered by the program.

Condominium and property standards concerns accounted for another 30% of orders. These investigations are important in ensuring that properties are maintained in accordance with applicable municipal standards and that neighbourhood concerns receive appropriate attention.

Long grass enforcement accounted for 19% of the orders, while lawn parking and waste cart violations represented additional areas of enforcement.

Together, these figures demonstrate that the pilot program addressed a broad range of property-related concerns rather than focusing on a single type of violation.

Seasonal enforcement and neighbourhood conditions

One of the most notable findings from the first year was the seasonal nature of property standards enforcement.

Enforcement activity generally increased between May and July, with the summer months bringing a greater number of concerns relating to property maintenance.

Long grass violations were a particularly clear example of this seasonal trend. The presentation identifies a significant increase during the warmer months, rising from no reported violations during the winter period to 95 in June.

June also represented a peak month for both proactive enforcement and long grass-related orders, while May was the peak month for condominium and property standards orders.

February recorded the lowest level of property standards enforcement activity during the reporting period.

These trends reinforce the importance of having enforcement resources available throughout the year while recognizing that different neighbourhood concerns can become more prominent depending on the season.

For residents, this means continuing to have access to a municipal enforcement response when property-related concerns arise, whether during the spring and summer months or throughout the rest of the year.

By-Law Compliance and Enforcement (BCE): Responding to Noise Complaints

Noise complaints are another important issue for residents across Ward 5.

Whether the concern involves excessive noise in a residential area or a disturbance affecting neighbouring households, residents should have a clear process to bring these concerns forward and have them investigated.

During the reporting period, By-Law Compliance and Enforcement initiated 500 noise investigations through the pilot program.

The recorded investigation outcomes provide further insight into how these complaints were assessed and resolved.

Of the 453 outcomes itemized in the presentation:

• 391 investigations (86%) resulted in no violation being found.

• 46 investigations (10%) resulted in voluntary compliance.

• 16 investigations (4%) resulted in a penalty being issued.

An important takeaway from these figures is that 86% of the itemized outcomes resulted in no violation being found following attendance.

This is an important part of the enforcement process. Not every complaint will result in a violation or a penalty. Municipal enforcement officers must investigate the circumstances, assess the available information and determine whether a violation has occurred under the applicable by-laws.

In cases where a violation is identified, voluntary compliance can provide an opportunity to resolve the concern without the need for a formal penalty. Where necessary, penalties can also be issued in accordance with the applicable enforcement process.

The objective is not simply to issue tickets or penalties. It is to investigate concerns fairly, encourage compliance and ensure that municipal by-laws are applied appropriately.

The results demonstrate the importance of having an enforcement presence that can respond to complaints, investigate concerns and determine the appropriate course of action.

Parking Services: Addressing Parking Concerns Across Ward 5

Parking continues to be one of the most frequently raised municipal enforcement concerns in many neighbourhoods.

Residents regularly contact my office about vehicles parked in violation of municipal regulations, concerns affecting residential streets, and parking activity that can create challenges for other members of the community.

Through the Ward 5 pilot program, Parking Services recorded 6,895 service requests and issued 32,984 parking tickets between August 18, 2025, and July 31, 2026.

This represents an average of approximately 2,749 parking tickets issued per month throughout the reporting period.

The program's parking enforcement activity was carried out through two primary groups: Municipal

By-Law Enforcement Officers (MBEOs) and private security.

Who carried out parking enforcement?

The breakdown of parking tickets issued was as follows:

• City Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officers: 27,523 tickets (83%)

• Private Security: 5,461 tickets (17%)

City Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officers were responsible for the majority of parking tickets issued, accounting for approximately 83% of all tickets during the reporting period.

This represents an average of approximately 2,294 tickets per month issued by City enforcement officers, compared with approximately 455 tickets per month issued by private security.

Overall parking ticket issuance remained relatively steady throughout the reporting period, demonstrating the consistent level of parking enforcement activity taking place across Ward 5.

Parking enforcement is an important component of maintaining accessible and orderly neighbourhood streets. It helps address violations, supports compliance with municipal parking regulations and responds to concerns raised by residents.

Understanding the Trends: What We Learned During the First Year

Beyond the overall enforcement numbers, the first full year of the program provides valuable insight into the types of concerns being reported and how enforcement activity changes throughout the year.

Three important findings emerged from the reporting period.

1. Property standards enforcement increases during the warmer months.

The data shows that property standards enforcement activity generally peaks between May and July. Long grass violations, in particular, increase significantly during the summer, with June representing a peak month.

This highlights the importance of maintaining a responsive enforcement presence during the warmer months, when property maintenance concerns become more prominent.

2. Parking enforcement remains consistent throughout the year.

Unlike some property standards concerns that follow seasonal patterns, parking enforcement activity remained relatively steady throughout the reporting period.

With 32,984 tickets issued and City Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officers responsible for 83% of those tickets, parking continues to represent a significant component of municipal enforcement activity in Ward 5.

3. Noise complaints require investigation and assessment.

The noise investigation outcomes demonstrate that receiving a complaint does not automatically mean that a by-law violation has occurred.

With 86% of the itemized outcomes resulting in no violation being found, the figures reinforce the importance of an investigative approach that considers the circumstances of each complaint.

At the same time, voluntary compliance and formal penalties remain important tools when violations are identified.

Together, these findings help provide a clearer picture of the enforcement needs across Ward 5 and the importance of maintaining a balanced approach to municipal enforcement.

A Continued Commitment to Malton and Britannia Woods

Ward 5 is home to diverse and vibrant neighbourhoods, each with its own character, priorities and challenges.

From Malton to Britannia Woods, residents deserve neighbourhoods that are clean, safe, well-maintained and supported by responsive municipal services.

Throughout my time as your Councillor, I have heard directly from residents about the issues that matter most to them. Whether it is concerns about property maintenance, parking, noise, waste management or other neighbourhood matters, I understand how important it is for residents to feel that their concerns are being heard and addressed.

The Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program is one way we have worked to bring additional attention to these issues.

The first year of results demonstrates the volume of enforcement activity taking place across Ward

5. It also provides a better understanding of where enforcement resources are being used and the types of concerns that require ongoing attention.

My commitment is to continue advocating for both Malton and Britannia Woods and to ensure that residents across Ward 5 have a strong voice when it comes to the municipal services and enforcement resources their neighbourhoods need.

Every neighbourhood matters, and every resident deserves to feel proud of the community they call home.

Looking Ahead

Completing the first full year of the Ward 5 Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program is an important milestone. The results provide a foundation for continued discussion about municipal enforcement, neighbourhood priorities and the services residents rely on.

While the numbers demonstrate the considerable work completed during the reporting period, there is always more to do.

Municipal enforcement is not just about responding to individual complaints. It is also about identifying patterns, understanding neighbourhood needs, encouraging compliance and ensuring that residents have confidence in the services available to them.

As we move forward, I will continue working with City staff, enforcement teams and residents to ensure that local concerns are brought forward and that Ward 5 receives the attention it deserves.

I also encourage residents to continue sharing their concerns with my office. Your feedback is an important part of identifying neighbourhood priorities and helping us determine where further attention may be needed.

The success of any municipal program depends not only on the work being done by City staff, but also on maintaining an ongoing conversation with the people who live in our communities.

I will continue advocating for practical solutions, stronger neighbourhood services and the resources necessary to support residents across Malton, Britannia Woods and all of Ward 5.

Thank you to the City staff, Municipal By-Law Enforcement Officers, enforcement teams and everyone involved in delivering the Ward 5 Municipal Enforcement Pilot Program. Their work throughout the reporting period has contributed to the significant enforcement activity outlined in this update.

Most importantly, thank you to the residents who continue to reach out, report concerns and take an active interest in the future of their neighbourhoods.

Your voices matter, and I will continue working hard to ensure they are heard at City Hall.

Together, we will keep working toward cleaner, safer, stronger and more vibrant neighbourhoods throughout Ward 5.

Councillor Natalie HartCity Councillor, Ward 5 City of Mississauga