City tees up new rules regarding local golf facilities

By February 12, 2026Issues

The City is updating its Fence By-law and Property Standards By-law, to include rules for golf facilities to help protect residents and properties from stray golf balls, where safety measures are ineffective or do not exist.

February 12, 2026

At its meeting on February 11, 2026, City Council approved new measures outlined in a staff corporate report that aims to protect residents and property from errant golf balls from nearby golf courses and driving ranges. Errant golf balls are golf balls that stray off course, for various reasons, such as a bad golf swing, hitting a ball too hard, or because of windy conditions. These shots may end up outside golf-course properties and land in areas like nearby backyards, driveways, roadways, sidewalks, or bushes. They can also lead to damage to windows, doors, vehicles, and siding, as well as pose risks to people, pets and wildlife.

These new amendments to the Fence By-law and Property Standards By-law will be in effect immediately with administrative penalties for the Fence By-law coming in to effect on April 6, 2026.

These by-law changes aim to better protect residents and ensure golf facilities take or maintain measures to prevent golf balls from leaving their property. The City is committed to maintaining safe neighbourhoods while also promoting the enjoyment of golf in Mississauga.

Amendments to City by-laws

After receiving Council direction, staff proposed updates to the City’s Fence By-law and Property Standards By-law to require golf courses and driving ranges near residential areas to implement and maintain adequate safety measures. There are ten golf courses in Mississauga: four public courses, four private courses and two public driving ranges.

The updated by-laws will affect all golf courses in Mississauga, including the City’s three public golf courses: Lakeview Golf Course and Braeben Golf Course (9 and 18-hole). These changes help ensure golf facilities take the right steps to protect residents and nearby homes, parks, schools and roads from stray golf balls.

Rules to reduce safety hazards on local golf facilities

Through the corporate report, the City is making changes that would require golf facilities in Mississauga to:

  • Install safety netting when there is a known safety risk of golf balls leaving the property, and in which other safety measures are ineffective or non-existent.
  • Allow taller fencing at golf facilities, above the normal height limit, when needed to catch golf balls.
  • Include golf ball netting in the definition of a “fence,” so it must be properly built and well maintained.
  • Provide a professional golf ball trajectory study showing how far golf balls could travel, if asked by the City.

In the coming months, the City’s Enforcement team will engage in education and awareness activities to ensure industry and the public are informed of the changes. The City will also implement measures to better track and assess complaints related to errant golf balls. Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers will investigate all complaints received, as well as conduct site inspections to verify that safety measures used to mitigate hazards comply with City by-laws.

Fines

Beginning on April 6, 2026, if the City’s Fence By-law is not adhered to, and there are continued violations, City Municipal By-law Enforcement Officers can pursue charges for an APS fine of $305.

For more serious non-compliance, the City can pursue changes under Part III of the Provincial Offences Act which carries a minimum fine of $500 and a maximum of $100,000 upon conviction, as determined by the Court.