All pets are truly man’s best friends. Why only dogs? We humans have many furry friends to whom we are closely attached. But as pet owners looking for condo buildings or a condo corporation that accepts pets or is pet friendly, it is advisable that you first read the fine print and get some facts straight.
A particular condo may not be so forthcoming and accommodating about pet ownership. However, there are quite a few pet-owning condo residents out there too. Pet restrictions and pet rules differ from one condo board to the other. Sometimes, there may be pet restrictions enforceable in at least some, if not all, Toronto condos.
Seeking Information
Just seeking out information from the property manager of various condominium communities is sufficient. You can have a ground reality on the various pet rules.
Of course, there are very few places of residence where there is a blanket pet ban. In fact, an absolute no pet building scenario is extremely rare.
Mostly, you might see cases where the condo owners or the condominium corporations enforce pet restrictions that are more about the nature, size of the pet and other factors like whether they are spayed, etc. The most common pet regulations are about how many pets an individual can have within his or her condo unit.
The Regulations of the Condo
Before moving into condos, especially in downtown Toronto, it makes sense for pet owners to study the condo regulations, bylaws, clauses of the Act for the condominium, any declaration or other such governing documents that might provide either a provision or information about the type, size etc. of animals allowed from building to building.
Most pet regulations pertain to the number of pets owners or tenants of condos can keep within one residential unit, which is usually between 1 to 2 per suite. There are also maximum weight restrictions (pets should be maximum of 50 lbs or less).
Importantly, a few condo laws do not allow certain breeds as pets. The Condominium Act of 1988, which is enforced by the condo boards throughout all Toronto condos, lays down these basic rules pertaining to your furry friend.
Your condominium board will have all regulations enforceable available as a written notice with respect to pet rules.
Asking if a condo you’re thinking about allows pets is the easiest way to find out. You should ask your salesperson for copies of the condominium status certificate. In addition, you should also check the condominium company’s rules, bylaws, and declaration, as well as any important disclosure documents pertaining to the corporation and building. Usually, a conditional phrase is added to the agreement of purchase and sale to reflect this.
Pet Rules
Logically, it applies that you have well-behaved pets, and no pet will not act as a nuisance animal. You should undertake dog runs only in areas specifically made for such activities.
It also can infer that your pets or dogs do not damage the common elements within the condo complexes or litter the common property area. You are solely responsible for cleaning up after all your pets. You also should ensure that you leave behind an environment comfortable for other owners and other residents in the common elements and areas of your condominium.
In the event that your pet ends up damaging or harming someone or something, a monetary settlement by way of compensation is a great way for both you and the other party to end things amicably.
Pet Policies
There are exceptions to all rules, and it is true for this Condominium Act also. For instance, a guide dog, service dog or service animal and seeing eye dog stand free from the provisions of the above Act. Moreover, people owning come under the legally licensed ones to do so. A service animal helps people with disabilities and is hence a necessity.
Condominium complexes must also consistently implement their rules and regulations. The condo homeowner may rely on “non-compliance.”
Further, they may believe they found no enforcement of pet limitations if the owner has not followed the rules for a protracted period of time. Over time, due to a lack of enforcement in these kinds of cases, a company may unknowingly have given up its ability to enforce its pet policies.
In this situation, a judge or mediator might agree to let the resident keep their pet. They could rely on the condo’s protracted “lack of enforcement.”
As a result, their pet can stay because the law granted them permission to stay in the building!
So, what happens if you, as a pet owner, just end up keeping your well-behaved pet against the rules of the condo community where you reside? Most condos can seek legal recourse to have the pets evicted from the premises. But this type of legal action has lawyers involved along with legal battles. Also, it is usually always the last resort. This course of action is time-consuming too. Hence, it is usually a final recourse. Usually, there is a written warning system to discourage people from keeping pets.
The Future of Pets in Condos
The good news is that more and more buildings are becoming pet-friendly. We see advertisements for dog parks and pet spa services. Additionally, the dog-walking community is expanding and improving. There are many wonderful ways to take your adorable dog outside with a walker that is familiar with your complex. Even some concierge desks hand out treats to every dog passing by!
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