Livestock and Poultry within the Escarpment Development Control Area

Resolution

On Tuesday May 21st, 2024, Town Council ratified the minutes from the Corporate Services meeting where it was resolved that report BYL-24-03, Keeping of Domestic Farm Animals, dated May 6, 2024 be received.

In conclusion, staff recommend the Corporate Services Standing Committee select Option 1 and receive this report. Option 1, to maintain the status quo, permits the Town to continue to manage land use under the Zoning By-law and leave land use management within the NEDCA to the Niagara Escarpment Commission. This recommendation was made in consideration of the financial impacts and public engagement feedback.

Summary

As a result of an approved motion from the Town Council meeting on December 4th, 2024, Town of Grimsby Staff are facilitating public discussion with the intent of collecting feedback regarding regulating Farm Animals on residential properties within the Niagara Escarpment Development Control Area (NEDCA).

This change would only impact properties within the NEDCA. The rest of the Town of Grimsby will continue to follow the Town of Grimsby Zoning By-law which indicates no farm animals are permitted to be kept on residential properties. Please see the map below that outlines where the NEDCA is located within the Town of Grimsby.

Proposed Changes

The Town of Grimsby is looking to make changes to the Animal Care and Control By-law to limit the keeping of farm animals on residential lots within the NEDCA. Farm animals includes livestock animals (i.e. cows, goats, pigs, etc.) and poultry birds (i.e. chickens, turkeys, etc.).

Currently the Animal Care and Control By-law states:

73. No person shall keep livestock on any premises in the Town unless the premises are zoned to permit the keeping of livestock by the Town's Zoning By-law No. 71-74, as amended and any successor thereto.

The following is the proposed wording change:

73. No person shall keep livestock or poultry on any Residential Lot.

Background

Presently, the Town of Grimsby Zoning By-law manages land use within the Town of Grimsby, excluding all lands within the NEDCA, as shown on the above map.

Land use within the NEDCA is managed by the Niagara Escarpment Commission. Their provincial legislation suspends the Town of Grimsby Zoning By-law, and leaves land use management to the Commission.

These changes are being proposed due to recent concerns that were brought forward about farm animals being kept on residential lots within the NEDCA. Presently, the Town of Grimsby cannot enforce the issue using the Zoning By-law and must alter the Animal Care and Control By-law to deal with these concerns.

Town Staff solicited feedback from the community. Please reference the lifecycle column along the right hand side to see next steps.