The Nuisance By-law

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;
• 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;
• 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.