Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (consolidated to 2026-03-16)
Langford, British Columbia
· No. 177
· adopted 1996-12-03
· summary & facts
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CONSOLIDATED
MUNICIPAL PARKS REGULATION BYLAW 177, 1996
List of Amendments
Consolidated for Convenience Only
This Bylaw has been consolidated as of March 16, 2026 for convenience only. Where applicable,
capitalization, numerical order, and numbering have been altered for consistency. Copies of the
original Bylaw and amendments may be viewed at the Langford City Hall located on the Second
Floor, 877 Goldstream Avenue, Langford, BC.
Consolidated to:
Amendment
Bylaw Number
Date Adopted
Amendment #1, 1997
233
Sept. 15/97
Amendment #2, 2001
570
October 1/01
Amendment #3, 2001
613
October 1/01
Amendment #4, 2002
658
May 14/02
Amendment #5, 2003
785
Nov 3/03
Amendment #6, 2009
1249
Sept 21/09
Amendment #7, 2013
1449
Mar 18/13
Amendment #8, 2015
1578
Aug 17/15
Amendment #9, 2018
1812
Sept 26/18
Amendment #10, 2018
1822
Dec 17, 2018
Amendment #11, 2020
1899
April 6, 2020
Amendment #12, 2023
2152
December 4, 2023
Amendment #13, 2026
2212
March 16, 2026
Amendment #14, 2026
2181
March 16, 2026
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
Page 2 of 16
DISTRICT OF LANGFORD
BYLAW NO. 177
A BYLAW TO REGULATE THE USE OF MUNICIPAL PARKS.
WHEREAS the Council has authority pursuant to Section 679 of the Municipal Act, to make rules and
regulations regarding the management, maintenance, improvement, operation, conservation, control and
use of property for pleasure, recreation or community uses of the public;
WHEREAS the Council has the possession and control of land and parks dedicated for the public by
subdivision plan pursuant to Section 685 of the Municipal Act;
WHEREAS the municipality has authority to close all or part of property held in the municipality for pleasure
and recreation at times and for periods considered advisable;
WHEREAS Council wishes to close municipal parks to public use thirty (30) minutes past sunset to thirty (30)
minutes before sunrise;
NOW THEREFORE the Council in open meeting assembled, enacts as follows:
"1.
Definitions
1.1.
"A" Class Park - means a park wherein the intended use is a mix of active and passive
recreation. "A" class parks may include play equipment and other buildings and structures
intended for recreational purposes, and may encompass landscapes that are designed, planted
and tended or left in a natural state. "A" class parks include, but are not strictly limited to
neighbourhood parks, tot lots, and trails.
1.2.
"C" Class Park - means a park wherein the principal intended use is active recreation. "C" class
parks are typically larger and more comprehensive parks including both indoor and outdoor
recreation opportunities for the community at large. An example of a "C" class park is
Langford's City Centre Park.
1.3.
"E" Class Park - means a park wherein the principal intended use is for the preservation of
environmentally significant or aesthetically important natural features. As much as possible,
and with the specific exception of the removal of invasive species, "E" class
parks shall
be left in a natural state, and not developed for active recreational opportunities.
1.4.
"Linear Park" - means a Park whose characteristics typically allow for some form of connection
between properties, places, or other transportation networks such as roads or rights-of-way.
Linear parks may provide either pedestrian/bicycle access or a corridor for wildlife.
1.5.
Open Space - means land that is in an undeveloped state that is owned by the City of Langford
as a lot in fee simple.
1.6.
Park - means land dedicated as park or used by the City as a park, sports field, playground,
cemetery, trail, garden, or recreational area, and all buildings and improvements upon such
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Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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land.
1.7.
City - means the City of Langford.
1.8.
Beach - means all aquatic foreshores in the City of Langford.
1.9.
Sunrise - the hour of the day for the rising of the sun as determined by Environment
Canada.
1.10.
Sunset - the hour of the day for the setting of the sun as determined by Environment
Canada.
1.11.
Trail - means a pedestrian or cycling route designed and maintained by the City of Langford on
Park land, road right-of-way, or statutory right-of-way.
1.12.
Parks Manager - means the person duly appointed by Council to serve as Parks Manager and
any person acting lawfully under his or her authority.
1.13.
Bylaw Enforcement Officer - means an individual appointed by Council as Municipal
Bylaw Enforcement Officer, and can include a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police.
1.14.
Contractor - means those individuals or companies hired by the City of Langford to carry out
the maintenance and operational activities of City lands.
1.15.
Firearm - includes a rifle, handgun or spring gun, crossbow, longbow, air pellet rifle, and any
other weapon that releases a projectile.
1.16.
Fireworks - includes cannon crackers, fireballs, firecrackers, mines, Roman Candles, sky
rockets, squibs, torpedoes, and other explosive products or devices manufactured
intentionally to produce an explosion, detonation, or pyrotechnic effect. This does not
include caps for toy products, Christmas crackers, sparklers, or model rocket engines.
1.17.
Guide Dog - means mobility Assistance Dogs for persons with disabilities, and Guide
Dogs for persons with visual impairment.
1.18.
Leashed - means affixed to a harness, tether, or locked extendable leash not exceeding 6 feet
in length and held by a person.
1.19.
"Homeless Person" - means a person who has neither a fixed address nor a predictable safe
residence to return to on a daily basis.
1.20.
"Temporary Overnight Shelter" - means a tent, lean-to, or other form of shelter that is
temporary and portable in nature that is constructed from nylon, plastic, cardboard or other
similar rigid or non-rigid material.
1.21.
"Burning" - includes the combustion or heating of a substance to produce smoke, vapour,
aerosol or other substances that can be inhaled.
1.22.
"Cannabis" has the same meaning as in the Cannabis Control and Licensing Act.
1.23.
"Smoke" - means the act of burning a cigarette or cigar containing cannabis, tobacco or any
other substance or burning or heating cannabis, tobacco or any other substance using a pipe,
hookah pipe, lighted smoking device or vapourizing device and includes the following:
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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(a)
Holding lighted cannabis, tobacco or other substance;
(b)
Using or holding a device that is vapourizing cannabis, tobacco or other substance
for inhalation or release into the air.
1.24.
"Posted Notice"-- means a sign or written notice of the Parks Manager which is affixed to any
wall, post, fence, gate, tree, or notice board in any Park, Trail, or Beach.
1.25.
"Controlled Substance" - means a substance included in Schedule I, II, III, IV or V of the
Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, S.C. 1996, c. 19.
1.26.
"Drug Paraphernalia"-- means any equipment that is used to store or consume a Controlled
Substance.
1.27.
"Public Place"-- means any place, including privately owned land or leased property, to which
the public reasonably has or is permitted to have access.
2.
Classification of Parks for Management and Operational Purposes
2.1.
For the purpose of park management, operation and use, municipal parks listed on "Schedule
A" are hereby classified as either Class "A", Class "C" or Class "E" parks.
2.2.
Any land that is dedicated as park, but that is not listed on "Schedule A" is hereby classified
as Class "E" park.
3.
Operating Hours
3.1.
All Class "A" and Class "C" parks listed on Schedule "A" are closed to public access between
sunset and sunrise daily, unless otherwise specified in this bylaw or in an operating agreement
pertaining to the park.
3.2.
All Class "E" parks listed on Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this bylaw are closed
to public access, with the exception of those parts of a park occupied by a trail maintained by
the City of Langford or unless otherwise specified in this bylaw or in an operating agreement
pertaining to the park.
3.3.
Notwithstanding subsections 3.1 and 3.2 all parks listed on Schedule "A", attached to and
forming part of this bylaw are hereby closed between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
3.4.
A Peace Officer of City employee may direct a person to leave any park for a set period of time
if that person is acting in contravention of a City Bylaw.
3.5.
A person directed to leave a park must;
a) Immediately leave the land or premises; and
b) Not enter the land or premises again within the time period stipulated.
3.6.
If he or she deems it necessary to do so, the Parks Manager may close any Park, Trail, or Beach,
or any area of a Park, Trail, or Beach, at any time and shall notify the public of the closure by
affixing Posted Notices within the Park.
4.
Park Use
4.1.
No person shall enter, use, occupy or remain in a municipal park contrary to Section 3 of this
bylaw.
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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4.2.
No person other than an employee of the City acting in the course of his/her duties or a
contractor authorized in writing by the Parks Manager, shall cut, break, injure, remove or in
any way destroy or damage any tree shrub plant, turf, seat, bench, swing, playground
equipment, sports equipment, or ornaments of any kind in any park, trail or on any beach.
4.3.
No person shall climb, walk, sit on any wall, fence, or other structure not intended for that
purpose, or deface or destroy in any way any wall, fence, rock, tree or any other structure in or
on any park, trail or beach.
4.4.
No person shall, whether or not with the use or aid of any animal, vehicle or other thing,
perform or engage in any stunt or other activity within a park that is likely to distract, startle or
interfere with other users of the park or cause damage to public or private property.
4.5.
No person shall, in a park, possess or consume liquor as defined in the Liquor Control and
Licensing Act, except as is authorized under a Special Occasion Licence.
4.6.
The Parks Manager may affix Posted Notices in any Park, Trail, or Beach to notify the public of
the regulations respecting the use of any Park, Trail, or Beach.
4.7.
No person shall deposit or dispose of any garbage in a park, trail, stream or lake or a receptacle
in a park, or any garbage produced outside of the park.
4.8.
No person other than an employee or Contractor of the City acting in the course of his/her
duties or a person authorized in writing by the Parks Manager shall remove any sand, soil,
plants, tree, wood, log, or other matter from a park or excavate, dig, cut into or open up the
natural terrain of any park, trail or beach.
4.9.
No person, without lawful excuse, other than a duly authorized officer acting in lawful capacity,
without written permission from the Parks Manager, shall carry or discharge any firearm, use
or explode any fireworks, or fire or explode any combustible or explosive material in any park,
trail or beach.
4.10.
No person shall camp overnight in or on any portion of any park or beach.
4.11.
No person shall construct or place in or on any portion of any park, open space, beach or trail a
temporary overnight shelter or temporary building without first obtaining a written permit
issued by the Parks Manager.
4.12.
No person shall construct or place in or on any park, open space, trail or beach a shelter,
pavilion or permanent structure without first obtaining the permission of Council.
4.13.
Despite subsection 4.10, subsection 4.11 and subsection 4.12 of this Bylaw, where there is no
accessible overnight shelter accommodation available within the City or the vicinity thereof, a
homeless person may erect and occupy a temporary overnight shelter in a park subject to the
restrictions set out in subsection 4.14.
4.14.
A temporary overnight shelter permitted under subsection 4.13:
(a) must not be erected before 7:00 p.m. on any one day and must be taken down and
removed before 7:00 a.m. on the next day following when Daylight Saving Time is not
in effect;
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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(b) must not be erected before 8:00 p.m. on any one day and must be taken down and removed
before 7:00 a.m. on the next day following when Daylight Saving Time is in effect;
(c) must not be erected or occupied at any time in, upon or within 10 metres of any of the
following:
(i) washroom facilities;
(ii) a road, driveway or parking facilities;
(iii) a pathway, trail, bridge, boardwalk, dock or wharf;
(iv) a beach;
(v) land designated on the City's official community plan as development permit areas
for the purpose of protecting the natural environment; and
(d) must not be erected or occupied at any time in, upon or within 100 metres of any of the
following:
(i) a playground, spray park or pool;
(ii) a horticultural display area or garden;
(iii) a tennis court or other sport court;
(iv) a sport field, stadium or dugout;
(v) a stage or bleachers;
(vi) a picnic shelter or gazebo;
(vii) recreation facilities;
(viii) a cenotaph; and
(e) must not occupy more than 9 square meters in area, including all associated objects and
possessions.
4.15.
Any temporary overnight shelter erected or maintained contrary to this bylaw may be removed
under subsection 6.4.
4.16.
No person shall abandon, deposit, dispose of or leave unattended any chattel, refuse or other
thing in any park, open space, trail, beach, or other public place other than the disposal of
refuse in the appropriate receptacle.
4.17.
No person shall abandon, deposit, dispose of or leave needles or other drug paraphernalia in
any park, open space, beach, trail, or other public place.
4.18.
No person shall light, ignite or maintain a fire on any park, trail, or beach without first
obtaining a written permit issued by the Fire Chief for the City.
4.19.
No person shall sell or offer to sell refreshments, goods or services or conduct any business
in any park, trail, or beach except with permission from the Parks Manager.
4.20.
No person shall deposit on the ground any lighted match, cigar, cigarette or other burning
substance within the limits of any park, trail or beach.
4.21.
No person shall create a nuisance or disturbance in any park or other public place by:
(a) Participating in a fight or physical confrontation between consenting or non-consenting
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adults.
(b) Urinating or leaving any human waste other than in a public washroom.
(c) Swearing, shouting, screaming or yelling.
(d) Using vulgar, indecent, grossly insulting or obscene language.
(e) Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour.
(f) Panhandling or loitering.
(g) Without lawful justification, obstructing the free use and enjoyment of the park or other
public place by another person.
(h) Behaving in a disorderly or offensive manner.
4.22.
No person without written permission from the Parks Manager shall produce any concert,
musical show, band show, circus, exhibition and opera, or theatrical production, voice, use an
amplification device, broadcasting or make other noise that disturbs or tends to disturb the
free use and enjoyment of any park or any beach by any other person.
4.23.
No person shall molest, disturb, frighten, injure, catch, trap or snare any bird or animal in any
park, trail or beach.
4.24.
No person shall suffer or permit an animal owned, housed, or harboured by him/her or in
his/her charge to be in any park, trail or beach except in accordance with the City of Langford
Animal Control Bylaw, or any successor bylaw.
4.25.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Bylaw, nothing shall interfere with any right of any blind
person or person with disabilities that requires the assistance of a service dog or guide dog
certified under the Guide Dog and Service Dog Act, SBC 2015, c. 17.
4.26.
No person, except persons with a Police Dog, shall allow or permit a dog in their care or
control to be in or on a playground facility or public beach, unless the dog is leashed as
defined in the City of Langford Animal Control Bylaw.
4.27.
No person, except persons with a Guide Dog, Service Dog or Police Dog, shall allow or permit a
dog in their care or control to be in or on a sports field at any time.
4.28.
No person shall smoke or vape cannabis on or in a park, beach, open space or trail.
4.29.
The prohibition in subsection 4.28 of this Bylaw does not apply to:
(a) the smoking of tobacco inside a private vehicle; or
(b) the ceremonial use of tobacco as part of a traditional aboriginal cultural activity.
4.30.
Every person within a Park, Trail, or Beach shall obey all Federal and Provincial enactments and
City bylaws including, without limitation, all Posted Notices.
5.
Park Permits
5.1. Any person wishing to use a park for an organized event must apply to the City for a Park
Permit. They must also provide written proof of 5 million dollars liability insurance to the City.
5.2.
Any person issued a park permit to hold an event in a municipal Park must be responsible for
cleaning up the Park after the event. (Schedule B)
6.
Enforcement
6.1.
The Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer or a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer is
hereby authorized to enforce this bylaw.
City of Langford
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6.2.
Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer or a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer may issue, in
writing, such notices or orders as may be necessary to inform a park user where
a
contravention of this bylaw has been observed.
6.3.
The Municipal Bylaw Enforcement Officer or a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer
may order a person who contravenes this bylaw to comply within the period specified.
6.4.
The Parks Manager, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officer or a Municipal Bylaw
Enforcement Officer may remove, seize and impound or cause the removal, seizure or
impoundment of any chattel placed or left in any park, open space, trail or beach contrary to
this bylaw.
6.5.
After the removal, seizure or impoundment of a chattel under subsection 6.4, the chattel shall
be made available to be claimed in accordance with subsection 6.6 by a person entitled to its
possession by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the next business day following the date of its
removal, seizure or impoundment.
6.6.
A person entitled to possession of a chattel removed, seized or impounded under this bylaw
may reclaim the chattel by contacting the City's Bylaw Services during regular business hours
and paying the City a fee equal to the sum of the fees that would have been payable to the City
under the Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, 2025, if the chattel had been removed, detained
or impounded under the Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 2233, 2025.
6.7.
If a person entitled to possession of a chattel has not claimed it under section 6.6 within 30
days following its impoundment, the Parks Manager may:
(a) cause the chattel to be sold, by public auction, to the highest bidder; or
(b) cause the chattel to be disposed of as garbage if it appears to the Parks
Manager that the chattel or structure has no market value.
6.8.
Where a chattel is sold at public auction under subsection 6.7(a), the proceeds of
the sale shall be applied as follows:
(a) firstly, to pay the costs incurred by the City for the removal, storage and auctioning
of the chattel; and
(b) secondly, to pay the remainder, if any, to the person who owned the chattel if that
person's identity and location are known.
6.9.
Where an amount referred to subsection 6.8(b) remains unclaimed and the identity or
location of the person entitled to it is unknown after one year following the date of the
auction, the amount shall be paid into the general revenue of the City.
6.10.
Despite any other provision of this bylaw, the Parks Manager or a Municipal Bylaw
Enforcement Officer may immediately remove and dispose of as garbage any of the following
items placed or found in or on a park, open space, trail, beach or other public place:
(a) any refuse, garbage, noxious or offensive matter or substance;
(b) a chattel or other thing that has been abandoned if it the chattel or other thing has no
apparent market value.
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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7.
Offence
7.1.
No person shall do any act or suffer or permit any act or thing to be done in
contravention of this bylaw.
7.2.
Every person who contravenes this bylaw commits an offence and is liable, on summary
conviction, to a fine of not more than $10,000.
7.3.
Each day during which a contravention of this bylaw occurs or continues shall be deemed a
separate offence
7.4.
Any person who commits a second or subsequent offence under this bylaw is liable to an
increased fine as set out in the District of Langford Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw,
1993.
8.
This Bylaw shall be cited for all purposes as "Langford Municipal Park Regulation Bylaw No.
177, 1996".
READ A FIRST TIME this 18th day of November, 1996.
READ A SECOND TIME this 18th day of November, 1996.
READ A THIRD TIME this 18th day of November, 1996.
ADOPTED this 3rd day of December, 1996.
MAYOR
CLERK-ADMINISTRATOR
City of Langford
Municipal Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 177, 1996 (Consolidated to 20260316)
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "A"
PARKS INVENTORY
City of Langford
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SCHEDULE "B"
PARK USE PERMIT