By-law Enforcement

Representatives of the City of St. Catharines' By-law Enforcement are committed to serving, protecting and providing a high quality of life for residents and visitors.

Our by-law officials and the various enforcement agencies we work with strive to educate residents and visitors about community standards. We use a professional, unbiased approach to enforcement and compliance with by-laws to ensure residents can live, work and play safely in St. Catharines.

By knowing the rules of your city and neighbourhood, you can help yourself and those around you avoid any problems or issues now and down the road and help create a stronger sense of community and pride.

Report an issue

You can report an issue with the City on a wide variety of municipal topics and our Bylaw Enforcement representatives will follow up with your concern.

Commonly requested by-laws

View more information on some of our more commonly requested by-laws, including those around noise, backyard fires, snow removal, fences, parking, signs, zoning and more.

Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)

What is AMPS?

How do I pay my Penalty Notice for a non-parking offence?

By Mail:

City of St. Catharines
By-law Enforcement Division
50 Church St., PO Box 3012
St. Catharines ON L2R 7C2

In Person:

Visit the By-law Enforcement Division on the first floor of City Hall at 50 Church Street.

You can leave cheque or money order payments in the drop box at the James Street entrance to City Hall.
Please include your penalty notice number on your cheque or money order.

Do not send cash in the mail or leave cash in the drop box

How do I appeal my Penalty Notice for a non-parking offence?

You can request a meeting with a Screening Officer to review the ticket within 15 calendar days beginning on the date of the penalty issuance.

You can set up a meeting by:

Emailing us a completed screening request form
Calling the by-law enforcement division at 905.688.5600
Visiting the by-law enforcement division in person on the first floor of City Hall at 50 Church Street

What will happen next?

You'll be given an appointment with a Screening Officer who will make a decision after reviewing your appeal. They are bound by our Conflict of Interest Guidelines. Screenings are held in the Screening Room on the second floor in City Hall.

What if I don't agree with the final decision?

If you are not satisfied with the decision made by the Screening Officer, you can request a review by a Hearing Officer within 15 calendar days of your screening decision by emailing us a completed hearing request form.

You will be notified once a hearing appointment is booked. The Hearing Officer's decision is final.