Sheltering in Parks | City of Victoria

The City is committed to keeping parks safe for everyone. This includes park visitors, City staff and people seeking temporary shelter.

The City works with the Province, BC Housing and community agencies to support people experiencing homelessness in the community. Victoria’s own Housing Strategy includes policies to address housing and affordability. The strategy is a guiding document on the path to ensuring everyone in Victoria has a safe and affordable place to call home.

The City’s focus remains on supporting the most vulnerable residents and managing sheltering in parks as safely as possible for everyone.

Overnight Sheltering in Parks

Daytime shelters are not allowed in City of Victoria parks. People experiencing homelessness may shelter overnight in some parks from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (8 p.m. to 7 a.m. during Daylight Saving Time). Recreational camping is not allowed in City of Victoria parks.

Anyone experiencing homelessness can contact BC Housing at 1-800-257-7756 (toll-free) to receive an application form and begin the process of moving into a safe indoor space.

People experiencing homelessness can shelter overnight in parks while following some basic rules. For more details, view the Parks Regulation Bylaw.

Rules

Sheltering is permitted overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (8 p.m. to 7 a.m. during Daylight Saving Time). Daytime shelters are not permitted.

Sheltering is not permitted in:

environmentally or culturally sensitive areas
playgrounds
sports fields
community gardens and horticultural areas
footpaths/roads
cemeteries
medians/boulevards

For safety and bylaw compliance, shelters must be:

no bigger than nine square metres (approximately 10 ft x 10 ft)
spaced four metres (13 ft) apart
four metres (13 ft) from no-shelter area or private property lines
eight metres (26 ft) from playgrounds
50 metres (164 ft) from school property

For safety, environmental protection and bylaw compliance, please do not:

locate shelters directly under trees and branches
attach shelters to trees, plants, benches, lamp posts or other structures
have fires or open flame appliances or combustibles, except for approved BBQs in allowable areas and at least two metres from any structure or no-shelter areas
remove tree branches or use City property to construct shelters

Allowed Sheltering Areas

People sheltering in parks need access to washrooms and running water. The City has identified some parks in the Overnight Sheltering in Parks handout [PDF/654KB] that have facilities and are most suitable for temporary overnight sheltering. Also see the maps of parks [PDF/5.3MB] with washrooms where overnight sheltering is allowed.

Parks that don’t allow sheltering

FAQs

How are rules communicated?

Bylaw officers work with people in parks to ensure regulations are understood and followed. Signage is posted in several parks where sheltering is allowed to further remind every one of the rules. An Overnight Sheltering in Parks handout [PDF/654KB] is available from bylaw officers, which communicates sheltering rules.

In addition, the City’s Neighbourhood Team is in regular contact with neighbourhood associations and community groups about all City matters, including sheltering in parks.

How is the bylaw enforced?

The City uses an individualized approach to bylaw enforcement. Bylaw Services tracks who is sheltering where and whether they have been offered housing or accepted an offer. Bylaw Services also keeps track of where and when they are expected to move inside.

People who accept an offer and are preparing to move from parks are not required to pack up daily. Bylaw officers will allow time for moving into the transitional housing locations and will assist with downsizing belongings. When indoor spaces are ready, Bylaw and outreach workers will assist people with packing their items in totes and helping people move.

Effective May 1, 2021, people who do not accept an offer are required to take down, pack up and remove their tent and belongings daily by 7 a.m. Any tent or property unlawfully left in place after 7 a.m. is subject to impound and can be retrieved through Bylaw Services.

City Council has authorized the City Manager and City Solicitor to proceed with a court injunction to enforce the Parks Regulation Bylaw should voluntary compliance not be achieved.

How can I help people experiencing homelessness?

Where can I find information about emergency shelters?

If I am wanting to retrieve items that have been taken into custody by Bylaw Services, who do I contact?

Please call City of Victoria Bylaw Services at 250-361-0215 or email bylawservices@victoria.ca. Please provide as much information as possible, including your name, the description of the items, the location they were found and the date your property was taken into custody. A time will need to be scheduled for your property to be retrieved from storage. Learn more about the Administration of Property in Custody Bylaw [PDF/223KB].

Contacts

For park maintenance requests such as removal of garbage, please use the Service Request form and include the address and location of the item(s).

Service Request Form

To report a bylaw violation such as a structure/tent or damage in a park, please use the Report a Bylaw Violation form.

Report a Bylaw Violation