The Nuisance By-law

Important Update

The Nuisance By-law was amended on June 24, 2025 to prohibit deceptive solicitation tactics. Read the report for more information. 

About the by-law

The Nuisance By-law prohibits activities which disturb or are likely to disturb persons, and includes the following:

• soliciting in an aggressive manner;
• solicting a person in a manner that causes a reasonable person to believe in a set of facts and circumstances which are not true, such as:
  • wearing or displaying clothing, signage, or using props in a manner that gives the impression of personal destitution with the intent to elicit donations from the public; or
  • impersonating a person in need of immediate financial or material assistance where such representation is knowingly inaccurate;
• threatening the person solicited with physical harm, by word, gesture or other means, during the solicitation or after the person solicited responds or fails to respond to the solicitation;
• while on a roadway soliciting a person who is in or on a stopped, standing or parked vehicle;
• disposing of any of the following things outdoors:
  • a used condom;
  • a new or used hypodermic needle or syringe;
  • broken glass;
• shouting, screaming, or making unusual noises;
• ringing of bells, sounding of horns, blowing of whistles, squealing of tires, revving of engines;
• the playing of music or any other noise that disturbs or is likely to disturb the occupants of a dwelling;
• spitting, urinating or defecating somewhere other than a washroom facility;
• obstructing the passage of pedestrians thereby rendering passage impassable or difficult;
• the creation of discomfort, disturbance or confusion for members of the public, pedestrians, the occupants of a dwelling, or to passing motorists;       
• loitering after being ordered to move by an enforcement officer;
• loitering, remaining in or refusing to leave a public place or public property after it is closed;
• the use of offensive language or gestures;
• the harassment or the intimidation of another person or persons;
• willfully causing damage to public property;
• the use of public property or public place for something other than their lawful intended use unless otherwise permitted by the city;
• loitering in a roadway;
• loitering in a sight triangle;
• soliciting for illegal activities; or
• the carrying of open liquor.

Enforcement and penalties

• Non-compliance may result in an administrative monetary penalty of $450 or higher fine amount under provincial regulation.