The Township of Chatsworth has several departments that work together to support our residents and business owners. Simply click on the Department title located on the left hand side of this webpage to access specific pages and services offered.
Township Services
Departments
The Township’s Building and Planning Departments manage building and planning matters, including:
- Building Inspections
- Construction, Renovation or Demolition
- Development Charges
- Ontario Building Code
- Site Plan Approval Process
- Zoning
Karl Schipprack – Chief Building Officer (CBO)
519-794-3232 ext. 128
building@chatsworth.ca
See Staff Directory for more Building Department contacts.
The Clerk’s Office and staff provide corporate, customer and statutory services to the public, other departments and external agencies. Some of the key activities include:
- Cemetery services
- Freedom of Information requests
- Lottery Licensing, Marriage Licensing
- Preparation of Council minutes and agendas
- Municipal Elections
To view Council minutes and agenda’s, please visit the Council page.
To request to appear before the Township of Chatsworth Council, individuals need to complete the Request to appear as Delegation form. These forms must be received by the Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on the Wednesday before the Council meeting.
Patty Sinnamon – CAO Clerk
519-794-3232 ext. 124
patty.sinnamon@chatsworth.ca
See Staff Directory for more Clerks Department contacts.
The Township of Chatsworth’s Finance Department is responsible for all financial functions including property tax and water billings, accounts payable and receivable, banking, financial reports to Provincial and Federal Governments, funding requests, municipal budgeting and financial strategies.
It is the Township’s responsibility to prepare a budget for Council’s approval that meets the needs of the community and ensures that all of our priorities and other initiatives are addressed. Each year staff present a budget that consists of total operating and capital expenditures for the upcoming year for Council’s consideration and approval. At least one public meeting is held before the budget is adopted by Council, and we welcome and encourage members of the public to attend and provide input in how their tax dollars are to be spent in the upcoming year.
Another service provided by the Finance Department is oversight of bids and tenders.
Paul Dowber – Treasurer
519-794-3232 ext. 133
paul.dowber@chatsworth.ca
See Staff Directory for more Finance Department contacts.
The Township of Chatsworth Fire Department provides emergency response in a variety of disciplines as stated in the Establishing & Regulating By-law 2014-23. The Fire Department takes great pride in protecting the community from fire, life-threatening emergencies and dangerous conditions. They also provide fire and safety education through a variety of public education programs. Their team includes a part-time Fire Chief and 22 dedicated volunteer firefighters from within our community.
Mike Givens – Fire Chief
519-794-3232 ext. 829
mike.givens@chatsworth.ca
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms
Smoke Alarms – Protect yourself and your family.
- Install smoke alarms – it´s the law.
- Smoke alarms save lives. Most fatal fires occur at night when people are asleep.
- One smoke alarm is not enough. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home near sleeping areas.
- Test your smoke alarm regularly. Every week, test your smoke alarms using the alarm test button.
- Change your clock, change your battery. Install a new battery of the proper type at least once a year. We change our clocks each spring and fall so this is a good time to change your smoke alarm batteries too.
- Smoke alarms do not last forever. Smoke alarms do wear out, so if you think your alarms are more than 10 years old, replace them with new ones.
- Plan your escape. Make sure that everyone knows the sound of the smoke alarm and what to do if a fire occurs.
- Under the Ontario Fire Code, every home in Ontario is required to have working smoke alarms.
- Homeowners must ensure that smoke alarms are installed between sleeping and living areas. They are also required to maintain the smoke alarms in working order.
- In rental accommodations, the obligation to install and maintain smoke alarms in operating condition falls to the landlord. Landlords must also provide smoke alarm maintenance information to the occupant of each unit.
- It is an offence for any person to disable a smoke alarm. This requirement applies equally to homeowners, landlords and tenants.
- Failure to comply with the smoke alarm requirements of the Fire Code can result in a $200.00 fine.
Carbon Monoxide (CO), often called the silent killer, is an invisible, odorless, colorless gas created when fuels burn incompletely. Extremely high levels of poisoning can be fatal, causing death within minutes.
Install CO alarms inside your home to provide early warning of carbon monoxide.
CO alarms should be installed in a central location outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home and in other locations where required by applicable laws, codes or standards. For the best protection, interconnect all CO alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement and mounting height.
- Combination smoke and CO alarms must be installed in accordance with requirements for smoke alarms.
- Choose a CO alarm that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- Test CO alarms at least once a month; replace them according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- If the audible trouble signal sounds, check for low batteries. If the battery is low, replace it. If it still sounds, call the fire department.
- Have fuel-burning heating equipment and chimneys inspected by a professional every year before cold weather sets in.
- When using a fireplace, open the flue for adequate ventilation.
- Never use your oven to heat your home.
- If you need to warm a vehicle, remove it from the garage immediately after starting it. Do not run a vehicle or other fueled engine or motor indoors, even if garage doors are open. Make sure the exhaust pipe of a running vehicle is not covered with snow.
- During and after a snowstorm, make sure vents for the dryer, furnace, stove, and fireplace are clear of snow build-up.
- A generator should be used in a well-ventilated location outdoors away from windows, doors and vent openings.
- Only use barbecue grills — which can produce CO — outside.
- Use battery-powered lights in tents, trailers and motor homes and motor boats.
- If the CO alarm sounds, immediately move to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Make sure everyone inside the home is accounted for. Call for help from a fresh air location and stay there until emergency personnel arrives to assist you.
- CO alarms are not substitutes for smoke alarms.
Open Air Burning
Open Air Burn Permits are required for fires over one-meter square (1m2) as per the Township of Chatsworth Open Air Burning By-law 2016-07. Applications for Open Air Burn Permits can be obtained here, at the Township Municipal Office, the Township of Chatsworth Fire Station or by emailing firedept@chatsworth.ca.
Fire Safety Inspections
To request a Fire Safety Inspection for either residential or commercial properties, please contact the Fire Department at 519-794-3188 or email firedept@chatsworth.ca. There may be a fee for the inspection depending on the type of Fire Safety Inspection requested, please refer to Schedule “E” of our Fees and Charges By-law for more details.
Mike Given – Fire Chief
1-519-794-3232 ext. 829
chattyfd@hotmail.com
Green Flashing Lights
When you see the Green Flashing lights on vehicles, our Volunteer Firefighters are responding to an emergency call. PLEASE give them the right-of-way, pull to the right of the road and allow them to pass safely.
The Township of Chatsworth has two municipal residential drinking water systems servicing the Village of Chatsworth and Hamlet of Walters Falls. The Township is responsible for providing and maintaining a safe supply of high quality drinking water that meets all applicable regulations and legislation. The Township contracts the operation and maintenance of the municipal water systems to the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA).
Operations Manager
519-794-3232 ext.137
After Hours Municipal Water System Emergency
519-794-3232 ext. 826
The Chief Administrative Officer is the principal advisor to Council, providing advice on legislation, developing policies, strategic planning, budgeting, community relations and economic development. The CAO is the liaison between Staff and Council, ensuring that staff adequately implement and administer the policies that are enacted by our elected officials.
The CAO is also the Head of Staff, and is responsible for the overall management of the Township’s operations, including human resources and staffing matters. Together with the Senior Management Team, the CAO ensures that service delivery and general government operations are carried out in compliance with the approved budget in the most cost efficient manner.
Patty Sinnamon – CAO Clerk
519-794-3232 ext. 124
patty.sinnamon@chatsworth.ca
The purpose of land use planning is to manage our land and resources. As communities grow and develop, Planning Professionals work to ensure that communities are safe, functional, attractive, and economically sustainable. Land use planning considers and works to balance the broader interests of a community, from the rural outskirts to the urban downtown core. Land use planning is governed by the principles of good planning and by Provincial, upper-tier, and local policy. Land use planning processes are legislated by the Ontario Planning Act.
General Questions – Clerks/Planning Department
519-794-3232 ext. 134
Preconsultation with the Planner is required for all planning proposals.
Leave a detailed message describing the description of subject lands and proposal, along with name and return phone number at 519-794-3232 ext.129
See Staff Directory for more Planning Department contacts.
The Township’s Public Works Department provides a variety of services to the community including:
- Maintaining roads and sidewalks
- Providing snow removal and winter maintenance
- Managing Infrastructure issues and concerns
- Maintaining parks and recreation facilities
Jamie Edwards – Operations Manager
519-794-3232 ext.137
jamie.edwards@chatsworth.ca
After Hours Roads Emergency
519-794-3232 ext. 827
See Staff Directory for more Public Works Department contacts.
