When you wish to file a bylaw concern, you can call the Municipal Enforcement 24-hour Complaint Line at 403.603.3643 and an officer will be dispatched to investigate your concern.

Please see the steps below to better understand the entire complaint and investigation process.

Step One: Initial Contact & Providing Information - When you call in a complaint, the dispatch centre will ask for your full name, date of birth, address, and phone number where you can be reached. All personal information is kept strictly confidential. You will also be asked to provide details about what is occurring and where it is happening. It is important to provide accurate information so the investigating officer can best assist you.

Step Two: Assignment of Investigating Officer - Once the dispatch centre has collected the required information, a file is created and a Peace Officer is assigned to begin investigating your concern. The officer may need to contact you for additional information such as:

• Names of parties involved (if known)
• Date(s) and time(s) the occurrence(s) happened
• The specific address of the occurrence
• What you saw or heard
• The outcome you are hoping to achieve
• It is important to provide as much detail as possible about the matter. Investigation files remain open until the matter is concluded. Any actions taken will consider the outcome you are hoping to achieve, in conjunction with the enforcement discretion of the investigating officer.

Step Three: Follow Up - During the course of an investigation, you may be required to provide a written statement and/or testify in court as a witness. If you are not willing to take these actions, the officer may be limited with enforcement action. A charge may not be laid and the only course of action may be to give the offender(s) a warning.

Step Four: Completion of Investigation - At the conclusion of an investigation, the Municipal Enforcement Officer will inform you of any action or enforcement taken and the final outcome.

Steps to resolve the complaint can include:

• Educating the offender(s)
• Providing an opportunity for compliance
• Requesting compliance and setting a time frame to resolve the matter
• Issuing a warning
• Issuing a ticket with a voluntary fine amount
• Issuing a summons requiring appearance in court (the accused may still have the option to comply before going to court).

Leaving a vehicle parked on the roadway for an extended period of time hinders road maintenance efforts by the Town or may cause neighbours to report the vehicle as abandoned.

The Alberta Traffic Safety Act defines an abandoned vehicle as one that has been parked on a roadway without moving for more than 72 hours.

Municipal Enforcement Officers attempt to contact the owner of the vehicle to provide them with the opportunity to move it; however, under certain circumstances, the vehicle could be deemed illegally parked and may be ticketed and/or towed.

While away on vacation, it is also recommended to park off the street, but if this is not possible, leave a set of keys with a family member or a neighbour so they can move the vehicle if necessary.

We're here to help. For more information about on-street parking, please contact the Municipal Enforcement Inquiry Line at 403.603.3643.

Can I store my recreation vehicle (trailer/motorhome/boat) in my front driveway?

• Yes, Parking in the frontage is permitted between April 2 and October 29, provided that the RV must be at least 0.6 metres back from the interior edge of the municipal Sidewalk or curb if there is no municipal sidewalk and no portion of an RV is permitted to protrude into the roadway.

Can I park my recreation vehicle (trailer/motorhome/boat) on the street?

• Yes, recreation vehicles may be parked on the street in a residential area for forty-eight (48) hours for the purpose of loading and unloading.
• Note that any trailer parked on the street must always be attached to a vehicle.
• The RV or trailer must not block, obstruct, impede, or hinder traffic or become a public safety hazard.
• An RV or trailer must be parked directly adjacent to the owner’s property, as shown in the records of the motor vehicle registry. No projections, slides, or attachments that inhibit the safe removal of the RV or trailer should be extended. This includes using cords, hoses, and/or hookups, except for temporary servicing.

What kinds of vehicles are considered recreation vehicles?

A “recreation vehicle” is a vehicle or trailer that is designed, constructed and equipped, either temporarily or permanently, as an accommodation for travel, vacation, or recreational use, whether licensed or unlicensed, and includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Travel trailers/tent trailers
• Motorized homes & conversions
• Slide-in camper
• Chassis-mounted camper
• Boat
• All-terrain vehicle
• Snowmobile
• Utility trailer

Parking in our back alleys is not allowed. Any vehicle (including trailers or other vehicles) cannot park in any back alley or laneway.

Yes, every owner or occupant of the property must control all weeds and grass on their property.

Yes, the owner or any other person in charge of the property shall remove, as soon as possible or within 24 hours, all snow, ice, dirt debris and other obstructions from the public sidewalk adjoining the premises owned or occupied by them.

Be a good neighbour and ensure people can walk safely after snowfalls. Consider helping others who can't maintain their sidewalks - check out our volunteer opportunities and be a snow angel for those in need!

If your property has graffiti, you can contact Municipal Enforcement Services at 403.603.3643 or contact the RCMP and have a Peace Officer attend to document the graffiti. They will take a report and photograph the graffiti.

Harmonized School and Playground Zone and Bus Safety

Our school population is growing rapidly, and increased traffic surrounding schools can place children at risk. Please use caution and be alert when driving near buses and in school zones, and be reminded of the following rules of the road:

• The speed limit in Harmonized School and Playground Zone in High River is (30) kilometres per hour, twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week year-round.
• Please know and obey the law to keep our kids safe!
• It is illegal to pass or attempt to pass another vehicle in a harmonized school and playground zone.
• Watch for alternating flashing amber lights, which means a school bus is slowing to stop, and students will either be getting on or off the bus. Passing a school bus with amber lights flashing is a $465 fine.
• Slow down and stop when a school bus activates its alternately flashing red lights when you are approaching an oncoming bus or if you are following one. Passing a school bus with red lights flashing is a $543 fine and six demerit points.
• You may only proceed once the red lights on the bus have stopped flashing.
• Watch for school buses loading and unloading children, even if the lights aren’t flashing.
• Parking on or within 5 meters of a crosswalk, double parking, illegal u-turns, and failing to yield to pedestrians are becoming a significant concern - be on the lookout for children crossing the road!
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk can result in a $776 fine.

When warmer weather arrives, drivers will find they are sharing the road with more pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles, all vulnerable road users.

A greater level of vigilance and care is required by drivers to reduce injury or death that may occur during a collision with a vulnerable road user. Please be courteous and respect the distance required for these road users to travel on the highway safely.

• Pedestrians are considered vulnerable road users. Both pedestrians and motorists are responsible for abiding by all signs, signals, and traffic laws to ensure the safety of pedestrians.
• Pedestrians should cross the road at designated crosswalks, make eye contact with motorists before crossing the street and be aware of any challenging road conditions that motorists may be experiencing.
• Motorists should be careful when approaching intersections. Watch for cars slowing in the lane next to yours because other drivers may yield to a pedestrian.

The Town of High River advocates for the safety and well-being of all animals, as it does its human residents.

• Any lost or found dogs can be reported to the Municipal Enforcement Complaint Line, and an officer will be dispatched to assist in reuniting the animal with its owner.
• All stray or injured animals are to be called into Room to Run at 403.652.5002.
• Bylaw Services is integral in ensuring pet owners have emergency support services, dispute mediation, safe off-leash parks and reuniting lost pets. Non-pet owners are provided with professional dispute resolution support to promote community safety and responsible pet ownership.
• Note: The Town does not have a bylaw or program to assist with lost or found cats. Please use services such as pet locator groups on social media and follow the advice provided by vets and rescue organizations.

Pets must always be on a leash and under control when outside their owner's or guardian's property, unless at an off-leash park (where control is still important!)

• Dogs Running at Large - A dog running at large is not an emergency but can still be reported to the High River Bylaw Complaint Phone Line. A patrol will be made to locate the dog if an officer is readily available.
• Aggressive Dogs - If you witness or encounter an aggressive dog and believe the dog may harm a human or other animal, this is considered an emergent situation and should be immediately reported to either the High River Bylaw Complaint Phone Line: 403-603-3643 or the RCMP at 403.652.2357.

Even the most adorable pets have their moments. Be responsible for your pets and help prevent pet safety issues. No animal can attack, threaten, harass, chase, bite or injure any person or other animal.

If any animal defecates on a property that is not the owner's property, the owner must remove the waste immediately. Double bag your animal waste and put it into a park garbage bin.

Be a responsible dog owner and help keep your community clean by picking up after your dog!

If any animal defecates on a property that is not the owner's property, the owner must remove the waste immediately. Double bag your animal waste and put it into a park garbage bin.

• The Town provides dog bag dispensers and garbage receptacles along the pathways and parks for dog owners to use while walking their dogs. However, a dog owner's responsible for carrying extra bags if these dispensers are empty.
• Under the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw, the fine for not cleaning up your dog's defecation on public property is $150 for a first offence and $300 for subsequent offences.
• Dog defecation causes an unsightly mess when left in open spaces, parks and along pathways and can also pose a health concern. Bylaw Services receives many complaints from concerned citizens regarding dog owners who walk away after their dog has defecated rather than stopping to clean up after their dogs.

Tips on living with wildlife:

• The picturesque Highwood River flows through the centre of High River, and with that comes wildlife.
• Any animal in the region can pose a threat if they are surprised or the encounter is not handled correctly.
• For information about preventing and managing human encounters with wildlife, visit Alberta Environment and Parks.
• Sightings can be reported to our local Fish and Wildlife Office at 403.652.8330 or the 24/7 Report a Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.