Municipal Law Enforcement Officers (MLEOs) enforce the majority of City of London by-laws. By-laws are local regulations passed by Council under provincial legislation such as the Municipal Act, Building Code Act and Planning Act.
Typically, phone calls and emails from residents inform us of concerns or nuisances, which we assess to determine if they may constitute by-law violations. However, by-laws may also be enforced proactively in specific areas or neighbourhoods on occasions which require a more targeted focus.
In most cases, MLEOs take an ‘education first’ approach to compliance, seeking voluntary conformity before potentially escalating matters. MLEOs can have a variety of tools at their disposal to penalize, ticket, fine, and “order” compliance with by-laws, but education and communication are how we begin.
2025 Municipal Compliance Annual Summary
The City of London’s Municipal Compliance Division plays a vital role in maintaining community standards, promoting public safety, and supporting the quality of life for residents. This summary highlights key activities and achievements from 2025 across various areas including community by-laws, parking and noise enforcement, animal services, and licensing.
Community By-Laws
Municipal Compliance investigates complaints and performs proactive inspections to ensure by-law adherence related to property conditions, licensing, and public spaces.
Yard and Lot Maintenance
Complaints investigated: 3,634
Proactive complaints addressed: 352
Property Standards
Complaints investigated: 1,390
Proactive apartment inspections:
- Buildings: 8
- Units: 1,060
Zoning
Complaints investigated: 811
Licensing
Complaints investigated: 2,149
Pool Fences
Complaints investigated: 95
Permits inspected: 127 (does not include Lawyers Letters requested for a pool fence inspection based on the sale of a property that has a pool)
Streets and Public Property
Complaints investigated: 751
Overall Totals:
Total complaints investigated: 10,332
Administrative monetary penalties issued: 1,221
Total value of penalties: $422,780.00
Parking services
Parking enforcement focuses on safety, accessibility, and traffic flow throughout the city.
Top 5 Parking Violations by Volume:
- Park Prohibited 3:00am-5:00am – 14,255
- Park beyond paid time – 11,099
- Park in signed prohibited area – 8,669
- Unauthorized Private Property Parking – 8,650
- Stopping in prohibited area – 4,333
Totals for Parking Services:
Administrative monetary penalties issued: 66,772
Total value of penalties: $4,181,385
Private properties monitored under enforcement: 440
Screening requests received: 9,247
Net revenue from parking operations (meters, lots, Honk Mobile): $3,372,168.64
Noise Enforcement
Occupant Noise complaints investigated – 2,678
Penalties issued – 243
Total value of noise related penalties - $60,750
Animal Services
Animal Services helps keep residents and animals safe through licensing, rescue, adoption, and enforcement efforts.
Call Volume
Total service calls: 23,112
After-hours calls: 1,523
Enforcement
Administrative monetary penalties issued: 2,492
Total value of penalties: $264,000.00
Dog bite investigations: 294
Licensing
Dogs licensed: 30,135
Cats licensed: 15,370
Animal Welfare
Live release rate: 93.7%
Animals transferred to rescues: 924
Animals adopted: 406
Medical Services
Surgeries performed: 1,975
Trap-Neuter-Release surgeries: 166
Low-income spay/neuter surgeries: 350
Licensing
Licensing ensures safe, regulated operation of various business and transportation services in London.
Vehicle-for-Hire Licensing
Vehicle licenses issued: 372
Broker licenses issued: 7
Driver licenses issued: 3
Business Licensing
Total business licences issued = (3,168 + 333) 3,501
Note: above does include STA (was not included in this total for 2024)
Food premises: 975
Personal services: 249
Automotive services: 303
Short-term accommodation: 333
Residential Rental Unit Licensing
Total licenses issued: 4,863
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a complaint?
A number of issues can be reported online using our Service London Portal.
If you don’t see your concern on the portal, general complaints can be made to Municipal Compliance via phone or email:
- Phone: 519-661-4660
- Email: enforcement@london.ca or service@london.ca
Please provide as much information as possible including your name, address, unit number, phone number, location of the issue, description of the concern, etc.. Photographs are encouraged when reporting by email.
What can I expect after making a complaint?
You can expect:
- That your concern will be handled professionally and confidentially.
- That an MLEO will investigate your concern as it relates to a by-law non-compliance matter.
- To be informed via email - if requested - when the complaint has been ‘closed’. If you request confirmation, that notice of closure means that the violation has been remedied, or that it was not considered a violation.
Note: MLEOs will contact a complainant if more information is required for investigative or enforcement purposes. For purposes of privacy and independent investigation, MLEOs do not provide updates as to how an investigation is proceeding.
What won't the City investigate or respond to?
Staff will not take complaints nor respond to calls regarding:
- Property line locations or disputes
- Land ownership disputes
- Snow removal or snow storage on private property
- Changes to grading or drainage issues on private property
- Basement or yard flooding (unless you are a tenant)
- Animal feces in yards
- Security cameras on private property
You don't need to be an expert in all municipal by-laws. When you call or email, Staff will inform you if your concern(s) supports a by-law complaint or investigation.
Can Municipal Law Enforcement Officers refuse to investigate my complaint?
The Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer (CMLEO) or their designate(s) have the right to refuse any complaint that is made anonymously, trivially, frivolously, and/or vexatiously.
I’ve been told my concern is a “civil matter”. What does that mean?
A civil matter is when two parties - meaning people, groups of people, businesses or other organizations - find themselves in a disagreement over an issue where no City by-laws or criminal laws are being broken. The easiest way to deal with a civil matter is for the parties to come to a private agreement/resolution. When this is not possible, a civil lawsuit can be filed with Ontario's Superior Court of Justice. The City of London does not investigate or take complaints regarding potential civil matters/cases.
Civil cases can deal with:
- disputes between neighbours
- disagreements about a contract
- claims for personal injuries
- claims for damage to your property
- claims for damage to your reputation
What are the most common by-laws that people call the City about?
- Animal Control By-law
- Business Licensing
- Dog Licensing and Control By-law
- Fences & Swimming Pool Fences (separate by-laws)
- Property Standards
- Public Nuisance
- Residential Rental Unit Licensing
- Signs
- Sound & Noise By-law
- Streets By-law
- Traffic and Parking By-law
- Unauthorized Area Parking
- Vital (Essential) Services
- Yard & Lot Maintenance
- Zoning
Find more City of London by-laws.