Whereas Section 11 (1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, as amended, authorizes lower-tier municipalities to provide any service or thing that the municipality considers necessary or desirable for the public;
And Whereas Section 11 (3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, as amended, provides that a municipality may pass by-laws with respect to municipally owned roads, including parking and traffic on such highways;
And Whereas Section 191.8(1) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, as amended, provides that no person shall drive an off-road vehicle on a highway except in accordance with the Highway Traffic Act regulations and any applicable Municipal By-law;
And Whereas Section 191.8(3) of the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990. c. H.8, as amended, provides that a municipality may pass by-laws permitting certain off-road vehicles on highways under the jurisdiction of the municipality and providing speed limits for such vehicles;
And Whereas Ontario Regulation 316/03: Operation of Off-Road Vehicles on Highways, made under the Highway Traffic Act, R.S.O. 1990. c. H.8, as amended, defines an All-Terrain Vehicle and provides regulations governing the operation of All-Terrain Vehicles upon Highways;
And Whereas the operation of off-road vehicles on highways is a privilege and not a right;
And Whereas the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders submitted a request to Council to allow limited, regulated road access for off-road motorcycles to get riders to and from trails safely;
And Whereas Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa is desirous of permitting off-road motorcycles the same access as other off-road vehicles to certain roads under its municipal jurisdiction;
Now Therefore be it enacted by the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa as follows:
“2.1.4 “Off-Road Motorcycle” means an off-road vehicle, designed primarily for recreational use, that:
a. has steering handlebars;
b. has two wheels, the tires of which are all in contact with the ground;
c. has a minimum wheel rim diameter of 250 millimetres;
d. has a minimum wheelbase of 1,016 millimetres;
e. has a seat that is designed to be straddled by the driver;
f. is designed to carry a driver only and no passengers; and
g. does not have a sidecar.”
1.2 That Section 2.2.2 is hereby deleted.
1.3 That Section 3.1 is amended to read as follows:
“3.1 This by-law regulates and governs the operation of all-terrain, multi-purpose, recreational off-road vehicles, and off-road motorcycles (ORVs) on Highways under the jurisdiction of the Corporation of the Town of Petawawa.”
1.4 That Section 3.5 is hereby deleted.
1.5 That the previous Sections 3.6 to 3.15 are hereby re-numbered as 3.5 to 3.14, including re-numbering the associated Sub-Sections.
1.6 That Appendix “A”, Town of Petawawa Designated Routes, be amended by deleting therefrom “Section 3.8” and replacing with “Section 3.7” thereto.
1.7 That Appendix “B”, County of Renfrew Designated Routes, be amended by deleting therefrom “Section 3.9” and replacing with “Section 3.8” thereto.
1.8 That Appendix “C”, Algonquin Trail Off-Road Vehicle Access Route, be amended by deleting therefrom “Section 3.10” and replacing with “Section 3.9” thereto.
1.9 That Appendix “D”, Routes Excluded from Off-Road Vehicle Access, be amended by deleting therefrom “Section 3.15” and replacing with “Section 3.14” thereto.
2. That this by-law shall come into force and take effect following third reading.
By-law read a first and second time this 4th day of May 2026.
By-law read a third time and passed this 4th day of May 2026.
Original Signed.
