Request Traffic Calming - Burlington Bylaw
Burlington, Ontario residents who want traffic calming measures such as speed bumps must follow the city process and work with municipal departments. This guide explains who to contact, common steps to request street-level calming, community consultation expectations and what the city typically requires before installing physical measures.
How the traffic calming process works
The City of Burlington evaluates traffic calming through its roads and transportation procedures and may consider measures where safety risks and speeds justify interventions. Typical steps include initial inquiry, traffic studies, neighbourhood consultation and engineering review; final decisions rest with the city engineering or transportation authority.
Penalties & Enforcement
Enforcement for improperly installed or unauthorized traffic control devices is managed by the municipal by-law or roads authority and may involve orders to remove devices, administrative actions, and prosecution under applicable municipal code. Specific monetary fines or ticket amounts for unauthorized traffic calming devices are not specified on the cited page.[1]
- Enforcer: municipal By-law Enforcement and Roads/Transportation staff (see Help and Support / Resources below).
- Inspection and compliance: the city inspects sites as part of evaluation and may issue removal orders for non-compliant installations.
- Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
- Appeals and review: appeal routes and time limits are not specified on the cited page; follow directions from the enforcing department for review or appeal procedures.
- Defences or variances: information on permitted variances or formal permits is not specified on the cited page.
Applications & Forms
The city may provide a traffic calming request or study request form for residents; the specific form name, number, fee and submission method are not specified on the cited page. Contact By-law Enforcement or Roads/Transportation through the Resources section to request the current form and instructions.
How to request traffic calming (overview)
Requests usually start with an inquiry to the municipal roads or transportation office. The city commonly requires a traffic study and neighbourhood consultation before installing measures like speed cushions, speed humps, raised crosswalks or curb extensions. The city evaluates safety, emergency vehicle access, drainage and maintenance impacts in each case.
How-To
- Gather evidence: record speeds, dates/times and locations and collect photographs where safe to do so.
- Build local support: speak with neighbours and gather signatures or written support if the city requests community backing.
- Contact the city: submit an inquiry or request to the municipal roads/transportation group or By-law Enforcement (see Resources below) to ask about the traffic calming process.
- Follow the city evaluation: the municipality may perform traffic counts, speed studies and a safety assessment; respond to any requests for more information.
- Community consultation and decision: attend neighbourhood meetings if required and await the city’s engineering recommendation and final decision.
FAQ
- How long does the city take to evaluate a traffic calming request?
- Timing varies by workload and studies required; specific timeframes are not specified on the cited page.
- Will the city pay for the installation?
- Funding rules vary; the cited page does not specify whether installation costs are municipal or shared.
- Can I install speed bumps myself?
- No, private installation of traffic control devices is typically prohibited and may be subject to removal orders and enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- Start with evidence and neighbour support before contacting the city.
- Use official municipal channels for requests to avoid enforcement action.
Help and Support / Resources
- By-law Enforcement - City of Burlington
- Traffic calming - City of Burlington
- Roads and Transportation - City of Burlington