By-law of the month: Parks 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 Parks By-law 101-2026 (PDF).
The Parks By-law and its amendments are part of the City’s commitment to ensuring Vaughan’s parks are welcoming places to explore and enjoy in the community. While in any park, you must be respectful of others visiting the space, the environment and City property.
Here are some tips to make sure your next visit to a Vaughan park or trail is fun, and laws you should know to stay safe:
Etiquette
While in parks, it is an offence to:
use firearms or weapons.
climb any building, structure or equipment, unless it is designed for climbing.
damage trees, vegetation, buildings, structures, equipment or other property of the municipality.
dump or drain any garbage, liquid or other material.
disturb, or allow a pet to disturb, any wildlife.
consume, possess, serve or sell alcoholic beverages.
encroach on park lands by allowing personal property, such as gardens, to cross onto public property.\
Bike riding
When riding a bike through a City park, be sure to ride on designated paths and do not exceed 20 kilometres per hour.
Dogs
Keep dog on a leash when visiting Vaughan’s parks and trails, unless you are in a designated off-leash area. Be sure to pick up after them and place droppings in a garbage bin.
Campfires and barbecues
These items can only be used in designated areas and with a Fire Burn Permit from the City. For more information about obtaining a permit, visit vaughan.ca/fire or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281.
Off-road vehicles
Off-road vehicles are not permitted in parks, woodlots, open spaces or any roads and highways within the city of Vaughan. The use of illegal off-road vehicles in parks and forests is dangerous for pedestrians and disturbs natural habitats.
The owner and/or operator of an off-road vehicle driving in unpermitted areas can be charged and convicted of an offence under the Off-Road Vehicles Act, Ontario Highway Traffic Act, Insurance Act, Trespass to Property Act and City of Vaughan by-laws.
Reporting a non-emergency activity
If you see off-road vehicles in parks, woodlots or open spaces, you can help keep Vaughan safe by reporting this, or other non-emergency activities, to Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or York Regional Police at 1-866-876-5423.
Please provide as much of the following information as possible:
park name and location of illegal activity
date and time of occurrence
identifiable marks of the off-road vehicle (colour, size, make)
licence plate number
street name of where the vehicle is coming from
number of vehicles and riders
physical description of person riding
Help keep our parks graffiti-free!
Under the City’s Anti-Graffiti By-law (PDF), it’s also against the law to put graffiti on any property in Vaughan – including parks! Let’s all work together to keep Vaughan clean and beautiful by reporting any graffiti you see in the community. If you see graffiti or vandalism on City property, report it online or call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/graffiti.
To learn more about keeping parks and trails safe for everyone, visit vaughan.ca/SafeTrails.
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