Temporary Overnight Sheltering

• Temporary overnight shelters are only allowed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
• All items and belongings must be removed from the sheltering location by 7 a.m. each morning.
• After taking down and packing up your temporary overnight shelter you must move from the sheltering location.
   

A tent, lean-to or other form of overhead shelter constructed from tarps, plastic, cardboard or other material can be used by a person experiencing homelessness to protect themselves from the elements. 

• Temporary overnight sheltering is only permitted in the approved list of 34 parks (see map below).
• Shelters must also be nine square metres (3m x 3m) or less.
  
  
  

   
  The list of parks includes: Alexander Park, Alston Green, Banfield Park, Barnard Park, Begbie Green, Begbie Parkway, Blackwood Park, Bushby Park, Chapman Park, Charles Redfern Park, Clawthorpe Park, Clover Point, Ernest Todd Park, Fisherman’s Wharf Park, Gonzales Park, Gower Park, Holland Point Park, Jackson Street Park, Johnson Street Green, Lime Bay Park, Mary Street Park, Mayfair Green/Tolmie Park, Oaklands Park, Olive Street Green, Oswald Park, Pemberton Park, Redfern Park, Rupert Terrace Green, Scurrah Green, Selkirk Green, Shelbourne Green, Sitkum Park, Songhees Hillside Park, William Stevenson Memorial Park
  
   

No sheltering can be done within four metres of:
•    Streets/paths/sidewalks
•    Medians/boulevards
•    Environmentally or culturally sensitive areas
•    Gardens
•    Cemeteries
•    Sports fields
•    No-shelter areas 
•    Private property
•    Another temporary shelter 

Shelters must also be:
•    15 metres from playgrounds
•    50 metres from school property
 

• Take down your shelter, pack up your belongings and move from your overnight sheltering area by 7 a.m.
• If your belongings are with you and you are following temporary sheltering rules, they won’t be impounded or disposed of.
• Keep your belongings dry, packed up and tidy.
• Do not leave your property unattended.

• Any shelter or property left in violation of the bylaw may be removed and then disposed of or impounded by Bylaw Services or Police.

• If you are present, willing and able to take essential items such as bedding, tents and medication, you may do so.
• Staff try to impound property that can be safely stored.
• Non-perishable food items in rodent-proof containers can be impounded.
• Wet, soiled, damaged, hazardous or bulky items cannot be safely stored and will be disposed of.
• Perishable food items or food not in rodent-proof containers will be disposed of.
• For more details, refer to the City's Property in Custody Bylaw.
   

Bylaw officers are required to keep public rights-of-way clear and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, and to ensure public parks can be accessed by everyone.  

Our teams do not conduct “sweeps.” City crews from Parks and Public Works, along with Bylaw staff, regularly visit different locations around Victoria with a focus on cleaning, restoration and enforcing sheltering regulations.  

Bylaw officers take an individualized approach with those experiencing homelessness to achieve compliance. City staff also provide information and connect individuals to services and resources, with a lens of safety and compassion.  

If repeated requests to comply with bylaws are not met, as a last resort, items may be impounded as per the City’s Streets and Traffic Bylaw and the Parks Regulation Bylaw. Items may also be impounded for safekeeping to reduce instances of theft or damage outdoors. 

You can come in person to the Bylaw Services office at 12 Centennial Square. The best time to come is Monday to Saturday (excluding holidays), 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Please note: 

• A time will need to be scheduled for your property to be retrieved from storage. If you come between the suggested times, we will try our best to get your property to you the same day.
• Please provide as much information as possible, including your name, a description of the items, the location where you left them and the date your property was taken into custody.
•  If you are unable to come to our office in person, please call 250.361.0215 or email bylawservices@victoria.ca.
• Outside agencies are available to assist you with claiming your property. We can connect you with these resources as required.
   

Impounded items are held for 14 days. Some exceptions may apply.

City Bylaw officers work directly with organizations like SOLID Outreach Society, Pacifica Housing, Island Health, Victoria Cool Aid Society, United Gospel Mission and BC Housing, to help connect individuals who are sheltering in the community to access supportive housing and health supports.

The City provides financial support through programs such as property tax exemptions and various grant or partnership programs, to help advance broader objectives on housing, inclusion, safety and community wellbeing.

While the City does not directly build housing, it can:

• Advocate to higher levels of government for more investment in affordable and supportive housing
• Continue to make approvals to affordable and supportive housing proposals faster and cheaper
• Accelerate mixed-use planning to better integrate residential, commercial and community services throughout the community
• Continue to streamline permitting to create opportunities for more market housing
   

• If you are currently experiencing homelessness, please call BC Housing to learn about housing options at 1.800.257.7756.
• To apply to the Housing Registry, visit the BC Housing office at 210-3440 Douglas Street or apply online. 

•    Call HealthLink BC at 8.1.1 for health information and advice, 24/7.
•    Call 9.1.1 for health emergencies.
•    Royal Jubilee Hospital is located at 1952 Bay Street.
•    Call Island Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use Service Link at 1.888.885.8824.
•    Call CRCL at 250.818.2454 to get support for a mental health crisis.