Spring and summer are a wonderful time of year in Fort McMurray, Alberta! Everyone gets to look forward to the great outdoors and camping, fires, spending time with friends and family and of course tossing meals onto a BBQ!

Here are five helpful seasonal reminders that we would like to review with our amazing residents at Hangingstone Point with the warmer weather finally sticking around.

A refresh of some important couple community rules:

  1. Pet Waste – This is one of the largest irritants to neighbours and a frequent source of trouble. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy your outdoor space while looking at and smelling a yard filled with feces. If you have a pet and rent from HSP you’ve filled out a form acknowledging your responsibilities which include keeping the yard clean and picking up after Fido. This policy is enforced with fines where necessary ($126). Please keep your yard clean so we can avoid issuing fines.
  2. BBQ’s – We love seeing you out grilling as long as you keep the BBQ away from your home. All BBQ’s must be at least 10’ away from the building and aren’t allowed in front steps, driveways, garages, on balconies or next to patio doors. This rule is in place to comply with our insurance policy and reduce the risk of fire or damage to the buildings and siding.
  3. Swimming Pools – Unfortunately, our backyards are quite small and most are 18-20’ wide by 20’ deep. That means even a small 12’ inflatable above ground pool would sit only a few feet away from your patio door. If a pool failed, several hundred gallons of water could easily flood the basement of your home (and your neighbours). We don’t allow swimming pools for this reason. Small kiddy pools and splash pads for your children to play in are perfectly fine.
  4. Trampolines – Again, our backyards are quite small. A person falling off a trampoline could easily land on a fence and get seriously hurt. Additionally, while some families enjoy this exercise there is plenty of information online about frequent injuries to hips, knees and ankles – particularly in children. The injuries are severe enough to be a red flag for insurers and our premiums would have to drastically increase to allow them. We don’t permit trampolines to keep costs down for everyone in the neighbourhood.
  5. Firepits & Fire Tables – Our insurance policy prohibits anything that will increase the risk of fire and/or damage to the buildings. We don’t allow open flames or items with large fuel reservoirs like fire tables. Decorative patio items like fire bowls are okay as long as they aren’t left unattended and capped/shut off when not in use.

We want you to enjoy your home, your community and the activities that go with this, if you have any questions about these we fully encourage you to reach out!

Have a brilliant Spring and Summer Fort McMurray!