By-law of the month

Anti-Graffiti By-law

By-laws are put in place to ensure a safe and orderly community for all who live, work and play in Vaughan. Each month, the City of Vaughan explores a different by-law and what it means for you. This month, let’s take a look at the Anti-Graffiti By-law (PDF).

The Anti-Graffiti By-law prohibits graffiti on public and private property. Graffiti is a marking spray painted or handwritten on building walls or structures without consent of the property owner.

Here are the rules:

• Simply put – it’s against the law to put graffiti on any property in Vaughan.
• If someone puts graffiti on your property, you must remove it. This includes on walls and fences. 

Graffiti has negative impacts on our community: 

• It costs taxpayers dollars to paint or repair any damage on public property – like in our parks and sidewalks.
• It can lead to more graffiti or vandalism in the area.
• It’s offensive to others when it is obscene, racist or derogatory towards a person or a community.

If you are found in violation of the by-law, a Notice to Comply will be issued. If you are convicted of an offence, you could be fined up to $20,000 and up to $50,000 for subsequent offences. If a corporation is convicted, it may be fined up to $50,000 and up to $100,000 for subsequent offences.

How to prevent graffiti

There are some steps you can take to help deter graffiti from happening on your property:

• Clean and maintain your property. Keep your property litter-free and encourage your neighbours to do the same – a littered environment may invite graffiti.
• Install lighting on your property. Use a motion detector and install it high enough that it is out of reach – graffiti vandals prefer working in the darkness.
• Landscape your property. Plant shrubs, ivy or vines in front of blank walls – this discourages vandalism.
• Use an anti-graffiti coating or sealer on surfaces to make any future graffiti easy to remove.

How to remove graffiti

Here are some ways you can remove existing graffiti from your property:

• Add a can of spray remover to your supplies. Having it on hand ensures prompt graffiti removal.
• Keep a record of the paint colour of your exterior walls so you can easily purchase more paint if required to cover graffiti.
• Put your power washer to use – it is the most effective in removing spray paint on sensitive surfaces that are not painted, such as stone and cement.
• Design a mural to deter future graffiti. Covering the area with an attractive mural may help keep vandals away.

How to report graffiti

Let’s all work together to keep Vaughan clean and beautiful by reporting any graffiti you see in the community. To report graffiti or vandalism on:

• City property, report it online or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
• hydro boxes, contact Alectra Inc.
• mailboxes, contact Canada Post. 

Obscene, racist or derogatory graffiti is considered a hate crime and should be reported to York Regional Police’s non-emergency line at 1-866-876-5423.

Learn more about the Anti-Graffiti By-law at vaughan.ca/graffiti.

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