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Sturgeon County approves community standards bylaw

Allows diesel trucks to idle without limit
idling

Sturgeon County residents are now banned from shooting guns and letting dogs howl at night, but they can idle their diesel trucks as long as they like.

County council approved third and final reading of the community standards bylaw last Aug. 25.

Sturgeon County previously did not have a law to address issues such as noise, animals and unsightly properties. This new law, which has been in the works since 2018, sets rules and fines for noise, lights, firearms, wrecked cars and other common issues.

The law, except for its noise provisions, only applies to areas zoned residential, and exempts all agricultural activities. (The text of the law that council approved incorrectly stated it was graffiti, not noise, provisions that applied everywhere. County protective services manager Pat Mahoney said in an interview this was a typo which would be corrected.)

The law was mostly unchanged from second reading. New clauses allow diesel vehicles to idle for more than 20 minutes in residential zones and snowblowers to run between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. after major snowfalls.

The law forbids a number of practices in residential areas, including shooting guns, creating graffiti and causing unreasonable noise.

Anyone who violates these standards can be fined $250 to $1,000. Mahoney told council bylaw officers would emphasize education over enforcement.


Kevin Ma

About the Author: Kevin Ma

Kevin Ma joined the St. Albert Gazette in 2006. He writes about Sturgeon County, education, the environment, agriculture, science and aboriginal affairs. He also contributes features, photographs and video.
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