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

Use the tool below to submit a question to City Administration about the Public Spaces Bylaw review. The City will aim to answer your questions within 3 business days.

  • Why are we not enforcing the current bylaws that we have to the fullest extent?It's already forbidden to camp out on public property, do drugs in public, cause a disturbance, loiter, threaten people, carry a concealed weapon, fight, etc. so why are we not enforcing these, but wasting time, resources on money to fix something that isn't enforced?

    citizenallmylife asked 11 months ago

    Officers will always use discretion when deciding the appropriate response to behaviours occurring in public spaces. One of the goals of this project is to improve enforcement by ensuring the right behaviours are being regulated in the right places so there is a shared understanding of what is acceptable.

  • With the rise of assaults with bear spray on transit property, can the city create a bylaw that prohibits individuals to carry bear spray on ETS property and Public Spaces?

    HALBAR asked 12 months ago

    Prohibiting the possession and use of bear spray in public spaces is one of the topics that will be addressed in the new Public Spaces Bylaw. Please note that the Edmonton Police Commission presented to the Community and Public Services Committee on this topic in February. You can find more information on the presentation here. If you would like to share your perspective on bear spray, you can add comments through the survey on how you think this and other behaviours should be regulated in public spaces, including transit.

    bear spray,transit
    bear spray transit

  • I don’t understand the survey. It’s asking me how concerned I am with various activities. What does that mean? Like am I interested in doing them so very concerned means I really want to do them?, or very concerned for my safety? or concerned about the activities going on around me because I don’t like them? I don’t think it’s worded very well and I’m not sure you are going to get accurate feedback.

    MD asked 12 months ago

    Thank you for reaching out and providing your feedback on the questions. We appreciate your thoughtfulness. Please answer the questions based on what you may have experienced OR witnessed around you in Edmonton's public spaces. For example, if you are a doer of an activity, you are most likely not concerned about doing that particular activity in a public space. If you are not a doer of that activity, you may or may not be concerned when you witness that activity happening around you.

    survey questions
    survey questions

  • Should open drug use be prohibited?

    Chinatown BIA asked 12 months ago

    This is one of the topics we invite feedback on through the survey. Please share your thoughts and perspectives.

    open drug use
    open drug use

  • Will Edmonton Police and ETS Peace Officers be allowed to use the Public Spaces Bylaw to enforce the rules set out in it, and will they be expected to enforce them

    Ian Mercer asked 12 months ago

    Every City bylaw can be enforced by both Edmonton Police Service and the City’s peace officers. Once Council approves the new bylaw and establishes the rules for public spaces, both agencies will develop enforcement procedures.

    enforcement
    enforcement

  • Why is the council so concerned, frightened and obsessed with drones?

    Will Maitner asked 12 months ago

    Use of drones in public spaces is one of nearly 250 topics under consideration for the new public spaces bylaw, and is one example of recreational activity that the City would like input on. Please share your thoughts through the survey on if, and how, the City should regulate drone use.

    drones
    drones