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Encroachments on City property

You cannot intrude on, in, under, or over the ground of connecting City property for your own purposes.

If your property is next to City parkland, greenbelts, roads, or easements, you must comply with the Encroachment By-law​.

Here are some common ways property owners encroach on City property:

  • Fences
  • Sheds
  • Stairs
  • Accessibility ramps
  • Retaining/ornamental walls
  • Pool decking
  • Snow-melting and de-icing systems
  • Landscaping such as vegetation gardens, shrubs and hedges
  • Awnings
  • Signage

It’s important to keep the areas next to your property in their natural state. Encroachments can:

  • damage the environment and sensitive ecosystems
  • result in injury or private property damage
  • increase taxpayer costs for restoration of public lands

Know your property lines

When buying a property next to a natural area, you must request a survey to know your property boundaries. You can also identify your boundaries using the City’s ​interactive mapping service​.

If you buy a home with an existing encroachment, you may be responsible for restoration costs.

What happens if you encroach on City property

If you knowingly or unknowingly encroach on City property, you may receive a notice of contravention or notice of encroachment.

When you receive a notice, you have to remove the encroachment or you can pay a non-refundable fee and submit an application for an encroachment agreement with the City. If your request is denied, you will have to remove the encroachment.

How to apply for an encroachment agreement

  1. Complete the encroachment agreement application form
  2. Sign the acknowledgement and authorization of owner form
  3. Submit a sketch that meets the minimum requirements for encroachment sketches (sample sketch 1, sample sketch 2)
  4. If applicable, submit a sketch that meets minimum requirements for sketches relating to shoring and tiebacks.

Submit your application and supporting documents via email to realtyservices@mississauga.ca.

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