Public Hearing

A Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, May 16th, 2024 at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers, located at 400 Main Street. Members of the public can attend and speak at the hearing, or hand in written submissions. Written submissions can be emailed to admin@townofyarmouth.ca, or delivered to Town Hall, and must be received by 12 pm (noon) on May 14th, 2024.

Over the past several months the Town has received approximately three enquiries about electric fences and received one complaint about the use of an electric fence within the Town limits.

If approved by Council, the proposed amendments would prohibit the use of electrified fencing in the Town of Yarmouth.

Historically, electric fencing has been used for grazing or pasture management by containing animals within a selected area of crop or pasture (i.e., keeping animals “in”). However, as urban farming and urban food production in general have been gaining popularity among urban dwellers, so has the interest for electric fences in towns and cities to protect crops from urban wildlife (i.e., keeping animals “out”). That is likely the main reason why some municipalities across North America elected to introduce regulations to restrict their use in urban areas.

The proposed amendments favor public safety over reliance on technological advances that have significantly reduced, but not completely eliminated, potential safety hazards, health risks and injuries to humans and animals from coming into contact with an energized fence.