Tribunals and Appeals Committee

Muzzle order

Dogs that have been deemed vicious by the City of Ottawa are required to always wear a muzzle when outside of their property. 

The Animal Control Tribunal reviews appeals of muzzle orders issued to dogs involved in incidents of bites and attacks.

Tribunal roles

The Tribunal will determine the following:

• Was the Muzzle Order issued in accordance with the Animal Care and Control By-law?
• Has the dog’s owner taken corrective action (ie. specialized dog training)?
• Will there be a threat to the public if the Muzzle Order is lifted?

The Tribunal has the authority to uphold a Muzzle Order or rescind it.

Reviewing a muzzle order

The owner of a dog who is deemed vicious and issued a Muzzle Order may request a hearing to appeal the order. The appeal must be submitted as required by Section 33 of the Animal Care and Control By-law (2003-077).

Requests for hearings must be made in writing and delivered to the Director of By-law and Regulatory Services at 735 Industrial Avenue within 14 days of issuance or if the dog’s circumstances change.

Although a request for an appeal hearing may be made, the Muzzle Order remains in effect until the hearing is held and the Tribunal issues a decision.

What to expect at a hearing

The City is entitled to submit evidence and an argument.

The dog owner may be represented by legal counsel or an agent and may call and examine witnesses and present arguments and submissions.

They may also cross-examine witnesses as reasonably required.

The Tribunal shall give its decision to the Director of By-law and Regulatory Services within seven business days and the decision will be served in person or by registered mail to the owner of the vicious dog.

All hearings shall be public, unless the owner of the vicious dog requests that it be held in camera.

About the PSLAC

The Property Standards and License Appeals Committee (PSLAC) is responsible for overhearing appeals of Property Standards Orders and Business Licensing decisions.

The Committee is composed of five citizen members appointed by City Council and operated in accordance with the provisions of Sections 97 – 101 of the Property Standards By-law (By-law 2013-416) and Section 6 of the Licensing By-law (By-law 2002-189).

Committee roles and powers regarding property standards

The Property Standards and License Appeals Committee may:

• confirm, modify or rescind an order to demolish or repair or
• extend the time for complying with the Order

Dispute a Property Standards Order

An owner or occupant who has been served with a Property Standards Order and who is not satisfied with its terms or conditions may appeal the Order by sending a written notice of appeal to the Director of By-law and Regulatory Services.

Requests for hearings, along with applicable payment must be made and delivered by registered mail to 735 Industrial Avenue before the appeal deadline on the Order.

A date, place, and time of the hearing of the appeal will be scheduled not less than seven days and not more than 30 days from the receipt of the notice of appeal.

What to expect at a hearing to appeal a property standards Order

The appellant may appear with or without counsel at the hearing to present the appeal.

The City may be represented by the City Solicitor or a duly authorized assistant who is entitled to reply to the appeal.

The Committee will provide its decision in writing to the Chief License Inspector within seven business days of the completion of the review hearing.

The appellant, the Officer who issued the Order and any other person who appeared at the hearing will be informed of the decision either by personal service or registered mail.

Committee roles and powers regarding business licensing

The Committee is authorized to make the final decision in respect to refusal, revocation, or suspension of any business licenser issued or the imposition of conditions on any licensee.

The Committee, after a hearing, may revoke any or each of the licenses held by a licensee for cause and without limiting the generality of the foregoing for:

• A breach of the law
• Anything which may be in any way adverse to the public interest
• The belief that the person will not carry on or engage in the business in accordance with the law or with honesty and integrity
• Any other matter which the Committee is authorized by law to consider
• Any violation of the provisions of the Licensing By-law

The Committee may also suspend a license for cause or impose conditions as a requirement of obtaining, continuing to hold or renewing the license.

The Committee’s decision is final and binding.

Dispute a license refusal, revocation, or suspension

The Chief License Inspector may report any breaches by licensees to the Property Standards and License Appeals Committee with a request to consider the status of a license.

An applicant who received a notice of refusal for a license may apply for a review of the matter within 14 days of having been served the notice.

A hearing date shall be scheduled at least 14 days after the request for the hearing is received.

What to expect at a hearing for a license

The applicant or licensee may be represented at the review hearing by counsel and they will have the right to present evidence and submit an argument.

The applicant also has the right to cross-examine witnesses.

The City will be represented at the review hearing, either by the Chief License Inspector or the City Solicitor, who is also entitled to present evidence and submit arguments in reply to the applicant or licensee.

The onus is on the applicant or licensee to show why:

• the license applied for should be granted,
• the license should not be suspended or revoked, or
• conditions should not be imposed on the license.

The Property Standards and License Appeals Committee shall provide its decision in writing to the Chief License Inspector within seven business days.

The applicant or licensee will be notified of the decision either by personal service or registered mail.

All review hearings are public unless the applicant or licensee request that it be held in camera.

For more information about the Animal Control Tribunal or Property Standards and License Appeals Committee please contact the Chief License Inspector, By-law and Regulatory Services Branch, City of Ottawa, by mail at 735 Industrial Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5J1, or by email at ba-ar@ottawa.ca.