Public Spaces Bylaw Review

Engagement has concluded

**This engagement opportunity is now closed. Thank you to those who provided input into this project. The What We Heard Report, Appendix A: Survey Demographics and Appendix B: GBA+ Analysis on Survey Results are now available.***


Share your thoughts on the Public Spaces Bylaws Review

The City of Edmonton is conducting a review of the City’s three primary public spaces bylaws - Public Places Bylaw, Parkland Bylaw and Conduct of Transit Passengers Bylaw - to replace them with a comprehensive, new bylaw that allows for clear, effective and equitable application of bylaw and enforcement measures.

You’re invited to learn more about the Public Spaces Bylaw review and share your feedback. We want to know what is most important to consider around how the City regulates how and when people can do certain activities and behaviours in public spaces in Edmonton.

How to get involved?

The following engagement opportunities are open from May 8 until May 21, 2023.

  • Learn More about the Public Spaces Bylaw review, how feedback is used and next steps
  • Ask a Question to Administration on any questions you have about the Public Spaces Bylaw review
  • Survey: Share your thoughts on the Public Spaces Bylaw review though a survey
  • Share your Ideas on how you want to feel in public spaces in Edmonton through the ideas tool

What Happens Next

Feedback received during public engagement has been summarized and is now available in a What We Heard Report (and Appendix). Key themes heard from Edmontonians include safety, enforcement, support for Edmontonians in vulnerable circumstances, disruption or prevention from using public spaces, and maintenance and cleanliness of public spaces.

The feedback in the What We Heard Report will be used along with technical analysis (including enforcement considerations, legal recommendations and scan of what other jurisdictions are doing) to help Administration review the bylaws and provide a recommendation to Council.

**This engagement opportunity is now closed. Thank you to those who provided input into this project. The What We Heard Report, Appendix A: Survey Demographics and Appendix B: GBA+ Analysis on Survey Results are now available.***


Share your thoughts on the Public Spaces Bylaws Review

The City of Edmonton is conducting a review of the City’s three primary public spaces bylaws - Public Places Bylaw, Parkland Bylaw and Conduct of Transit Passengers Bylaw - to replace them with a comprehensive, new bylaw that allows for clear, effective and equitable application of bylaw and enforcement measures.

You’re invited to learn more about the Public Spaces Bylaw review and share your feedback. We want to know what is most important to consider around how the City regulates how and when people can do certain activities and behaviours in public spaces in Edmonton.

How to get involved?

The following engagement opportunities are open from May 8 until May 21, 2023.

  • Learn More about the Public Spaces Bylaw review, how feedback is used and next steps
  • Ask a Question to Administration on any questions you have about the Public Spaces Bylaw review
  • Survey: Share your thoughts on the Public Spaces Bylaw review though a survey
  • Share your Ideas on how you want to feel in public spaces in Edmonton through the ideas tool

What Happens Next

Feedback received during public engagement has been summarized and is now available in a What We Heard Report (and Appendix). Key themes heard from Edmontonians include safety, enforcement, support for Edmontonians in vulnerable circumstances, disruption or prevention from using public spaces, and maintenance and cleanliness of public spaces.

The feedback in the What We Heard Report will be used along with technical analysis (including enforcement considerations, legal recommendations and scan of what other jurisdictions are doing) to help Administration review the bylaws and provide a recommendation to Council.

Engagement has concluded

  • Survey

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Share your thoughts on the Public Spaces Bylaw Review through the online survey.

  • Project Background

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    The Public Spaces Bylaw Review project was presented to the Community and Public Services Committee on September 9, 2022 when Administration presented its project plan to conduct a full scale review and revision of applicable bylaws that address behaviours and enforcement in transit and other public spaces. In order to address inconsistencies and unintended impacts, public space regulation needs to be reviewed holistically from a community safety and equity lens.

    City Administration will review all of the public spaces bylaws to develop a comprehensive, new bylaw to replace the existing bylaws. The primary scope of the work involves the replacement of the City’s three primary public spaces bylaws:


    The key objectives of this project are to provide clear legal parameters that apply to all public places in the city with clear, effective and equitable application of bylaws and enforcement measures. The project aims to simplify, remove redundancies and mitigate inconsistencies so bylaw terms are easily understood by Edmontonians and consistently applied by the teams who work with them.

  • How is the City gathering feedback on this project?

    CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

    Public Engagement will be completed at the ADVISE level of the City’s Public Engagement Spectrum. We want to know what is most important to consider around how the City regulates how and when people can do certain activities and behaviours in public spaces in Edmonton.

    To understand Edmontonians perspectives and concerns around this project, the City is using the following engagement opportunities:


    How are decisions made?

    City Administration is reviewing the three primary public spaces bylaws to develop a comprehensive, new bylaw to replace the existing bylaws. The three primary public spaces bylaws include:

    Other bylaws that contain regulations on behaviours in public spaces will be brought in-scope when appropriate.

    The bylaw topics that we are currently engaging on include:

    • Performances, small commercial activity and gatherings
    • Recreational activities
    • Panhandling, lingering without purpose, use of public space at night and visible drug use

    Feedback will be used along with technical analysis (including enforcement considerations, legal recommendations and scan of what other jurisdictions are doing) to help us review the bylaws and provide recommendations to City Council.