Vacant Building By-law

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Municipality of Huron East has provisionally adopted a Vacant Building By-law to support safe, well-maintained properties across the community. This means the By-law is not yet in force and remains subject to final approval by Council. Final approval will be considered on August 11, 2026.

Members of the public may provide written comments to be part of a Council agenda package or by requesting to appear as a delegation at the July 7 or August 11 Council meetings. Delegation requests and/or written comments must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. prior to the meeting date through the online form or by contacting the Clerk at clerk@huroneast.com or 519-527-0160 ext. 38.

Please note that the Vacant Building By-law is currently proposed only at this time. No registration or fees are required unless and until the By-law is approved by Council. This page will be updated following Council's consideration of the proposed By-law.

On this page:

1. Who does this apply to?
2. Owner responsibilities under the proposed By-law
3. Additional owner responsibilities
4. Council consideration of the provisionally adopted By-law
5. Timeline
6. Contact

Who does this apply to?

The proposed Vacant Building By-law would apply to property owners within the Municipality of Huron East who own commercial or industrial buildings that have been unoccupied for more than sixty (60) consecutive days.

Owner responsibilities under the proposed By-law

Upon final passage of the proposed By-law, owners of vacant buildings will be required to:

• Register the vacant building with the Municipality within 120 consecutive days of the building becoming vacant
• Provide the name and contact information of a responsible agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner
• Maintain the building and property in compliance with:
  • Municipal Property Standards
  • Safety and security regulations
  • Applicable provincial legislation
• Pay all registration, renewal, and inspection fees as prescribed under the By-law

Registration must be renewed annually for as long as the building remains vacant.

Additional owner responsibilities

Owners of vacant buildings are also required to:

• Secure the building against unauthorized entry
• Maintain up‑to‑date liability insurance on the property
• Shut off all utilities after the building has been vacant for more than 90 days, where required, to prevent unsafe conditions such as fire or flooding
• Provide the Municipality with:
• A current floor plan of the vacant building
• An inventory of all combustible materials and flammable liquids stored on the property

Council consideration of the proposed By-law

The Municipality of Huron East has provisionally adopted a Vacant Building By-law to support safe, well-maintained properties across the community. This means the By-law is not yet in force and remains subject to final approval by Council. Final approval will be considered on August 11, 2026.

Members of the public may provide written comments to be part of a Council agenda package or by requesting to appear as a delegation at the July 7 or August 11 Council meetings. Delegation requests and/or written comments must be submitted by Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. prior to the meeting date through the online form or by contacting the Clerk at clerk@huroneast.com or 519-527-0160 ext. 38.

No action is required at this time. Should the provisionally adopted By-law receive final approval, additional information regarding registration requirements, timelines, and next steps will be provided directly to affected property owners.

Timeline

1. June 23, 2026: Council provided first and second reading of the Vacant Building By-law (provisionally adopted).
2. July 7, 2026: Opportunity for public input through delegations to Council.
3. August 11, 2026: Opportunity for public input through delegations to Council. Council will consider final approval of the Vacant Building By-law.

Contact

For any questions, please contact the Building Department at 519-527-0160 ext. 31 or opsassistant@huroneast.com.