Should Calgary hike bylaw fines on unkempt yards, backyard fires, loud music and more?

The city is asking for feedback as it considers whether to add steeper fines and other changes to its community standards bylaw.

The bylaw is meant to promote "good neighbour relationships" by regulating noise, weeds and grass, fire pit use, and untidy properties.

After a year-long review, officials came up with a list of recommended changes to five sections of the bylaw:

• Requiring a mesh screen or spark guard to reduce sparks and embers from fire pits, requiring them to be out by midnight, and increasing the fine for unsafe fires from the current $500.
• Adding new limits for bass noise for outdoor concerts, and increasing the fines from the current $100-$200 range.
• Increasing the fines for long grass and weeds from the current $300.
• Increasing the fines for untidy properties from the current range of $200-$300.
• Stipulating that a 'no flyer' or 'no junk mail' sign posted at the entrance of a dwelling should also prohibit delivery of items from non-commercial groups.

The city is encouraging Calgarians to complete itsonline survey about the proposed changes.

Calgary's chief bylaw officer, Alvin Murray, says it is important for citizens to have their say.

"We don't want to make wholesale changes if we don't need to. If citizens are happy with the way things are then it's important for everybody to voice their opinions," he said.

Murray hopes to be able to present potential changes to city council in November.

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