Oswego board adopts trespass ordinance to help enforce HOA pond rules

The Village of Oswego Board of Trustees voted to adopt an ordinance amending Title 6 of the municipal code to strengthen local trespass enforcement at homeowner‑association ponds and other private waters.

The measure, which trustees discussed after pulling it from the consent agenda for clarification, is intended to give police immediate authority to address repeat trespassers when state criminal‑trespass rules are hard to enforce absent a complainant. "This trespass ordinance will allow us to take immediate action because most of the time these are happening during the daytime," the police chief said, adding that many homeowner associations reported repeated fishing and shoreline erosion that require costly remediation.

Trustees asked whether the ordinance would inadvertently penalize children who fish in neighborhood ponds. "I'm just worried about kids...coming home with trespass tickets," one trustee said. The chief replied that the ordinance is intended as an enforcement tool for repeat adult offenders and noted that officers generally prefer voluntary compliance over tickets: "Nobody wants to write somebody a ticket for fishing." The ordinance requires clearly posted signage for HOA ponds and allows officers to check proof of residency when enforcement is needed.

The board approved the ordinance by roll call. Officials said the change brings the village in line with practices in other municipalities where similar local trespass rules are used to protect pond shorelines and maintenance investments.

Next steps: staff will notify homeowners associations about signage requirements and coordinate guidance with the police department on how the ordinance will be enforced. The board also approved other consent‑agenda items at the same meeting, including contracts and traffic changes.