Street, Lane and Walkway Closings

Legislative History: Enacted September 19, 2017 (By-law No. CPOL.-207-459); Amended June 26, 2018 (By-law No. CPOL.-320-311)

Last Review Date:  July 25, 2023

Service Area Lead: Director of Construction and Infrastructure

1. Policy Statement

This policy establishes the criteria for legally closing Streets, Lanes, and Walkways as public highway.

2. Definitions

Not applicable.

3. Applicability

This policy applies to all municipally owned Streets, Lanes, and Walkways designated public highway, whether assumed or not.

4. The Policy

a) Closings of streets, lanes or walkways shall be by way of Council by-law, regardless of whether they are assumed by the City or not.

b) Applications to close streets, lanes or walkways must be made with the intention of purchasing the said street, lane or walkway.

c) Where required, easements shall be conveyed by the City to utility owners upon the closing of the street, lane or walkway.

d) The closing of a street that results in the total loss of a property’s access to public highway shall require the consent of the property owner.

e) The process for closing a publically traveled street shall include public notice provisions satisfactory to the City Clerk.

f) In order to preserve and protect the existing streetscape, the City shall not approve the partial closing of boulevards.

g) The City shall not approve of the closing of a lane unless all of the lane in the block bounded by the four intersecting streets is included in the application.

h) The City shall not approve of the closing of any lanes that provide access to properties fronting on arterial or collector streets.

i) The City shall not approve the closing of any lanes that provide access to properties having inadequate side yards which do not permit vehicles to be driven from the abutting street onto private property.

j) The closing of a lane shall require the consent of every property owner affected by the closing.

k) The City will not approve the closing of a public walkway unless land use changes in the immediate vicinity render the walkway redundant.