Budget - Municipal Law Enforcement and Security

The Municipal Law Enforcement & Security (MLES) Division was established with Council’s approval of Report IPSBD23-001 on March 27, 2023. The MLES Division’s purpose is to interpret and enforce by-laws with regard to parking, zoning, property standards, property maintenance, signage, parks and facilities, and animals; including the administration, education and dispersal of information to the public by the most efficient and effective means as set by Council through the City’s Enforcement By-law. The division also provides enforcement and assistance to various divisions within the corporation as necessary in relation to trees, waste collection, and other by-laws not directly regulated by the Municipal Law Enforcement and Security Services Division, including the management of corporate risk and financial liability with regard to terminating emergency and unsafe situations.

Highlights

2025 saw MLES undertake a slight re-brand from its original “Municipal Law Enforcement Services Division” to “Municipal Law Enforcement & Security Services Division.” Although a slight change in title, this re-brand reinforced the growth and development undertaken with the City’s now centralized security services at the end of 2024 and into 2025. Municipal Law Enforcement & Security witnessed staffing changes and growth internally, as approved in 2025 budget, to better service the needs of the division and the corporation as a whole.

With the re-balance of the corporation and on-boarding of Riverview Park and Zoo under Cultural Services, the security needs and services of the Zoo were analyzed and undertaken as part of MLES’s pledge to centralize and administer the City’s security services. In addition, security patrols of the Peterborough Airport began in 2025, as budgeted and approved as an area of need in 2024.

In 2025, approximately 1,900 investigations were undertaken for various property related concerns, approximately 950 illegal tenting matters were addressed under Parks and Facilities, and approximately 27,000 parking related Administrative Monetary Penalty System noticed were issued related to parking violations. In addition to enforcement related functions, 150 sign permits and 20 pool permits were issued, and 50 rental license applications were reviewed. With Municipal Law Enforcement & Security Services still in its infancy, the strategic goal for 2026 is moving forward with the implementation of the 2022 enforcement services recommendations and expanding enforcement and security availability to better meet public and corporate demand.

In 2026, key objectives of the Municipal Law Enforcement & Security Services Division will be to begin phase two of the security services consolidation, resulting in a single-source provision for all contracted enforcement and security needs throughout the corporation, with some specific exceptions. The division will continue to review best practices relative to enforcement and security in an effort to find efficiencies and streamline effective compliance.