What are municipalities empowered to impose against violations?

Municipalities are empowered to impose administrative penalties against violations of by-laws and regulations, particularly those related to the Ontario Building Code. This authority allows them to enforce compliance effectively without having to resort to criminal proceedings. Administrative penalties serve as a deterrent to noncompliance and are typically used for infractions that do not rise to the level of criminal behavior but still warrant regulatory oversight.

These penalties can take various forms, such as fines, which are intended to rectify the behavior of the violator and ensure adherence to municipal standards. The ability to impose such penalties enables municipalities to manage building practices and ensure safe and compliant construction and renovation activities within their jurisdictions.

Other options like tax increases, restraining orders, or court summons do not directly relate to enforcement of building code violations. Tax increases would generally be utilized for broader fiscal management, while restraining orders pertain to legal restrictions typically in the context of personal disputes. Court summons could occur in more serious legal cases but are not the primary tool for municipalities to address by-law violations.