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CONSOLIDATION UPDATE: NOVEMBER 27, 2025
THE CITY OF WINNIPEG
PARK BY-LAW
NO. 85/2009
A By-law of THE CITY OF WINNIPEG to
regulate the operation and use of parks.
THE CITY OF WINNIPEG, in Council assembled, enacts as follows:
Short title
1
This By-law may be cited as the Parks By-law.
PART 1 - GENERAL
Definitions
2
In this By-law
"Chief Administrative Officer" means the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of
Winnipeg and any employee of the City of Winnipeg to whom he or she has delegated a power
or responsibility under this By-law;
"Council" means the Council of the City of Winnipeg or a committee of Council which has been
delegated authority to exercise Council's powers under this By-law;
"designated", in reference to an area of a park, means an area designated by the Chief
Administrative Officer pursuant to section 6;
"enforcement officer" means a City of Winnipeg employee or special constable who has
been authorized to enforce all or part of this By-law, and a member of the Winnipeg Police
Service;
"firearm" includes a gun or rifle that fires projectiles through the use of compressed air or
gas;
"garbage" has the same meaning as in the Neighbourhood Liveability By-law except that, for
the purposes of this By-law, it includes derelict vehicles;
This document is an office consolidation of by-law amendments which has been prepared for
the convenience of the user. The City of Winnipeg expressly disclaims any responsibility for
errors or omissions.
By-law No. 85/2009
2
"motorized mobility aid" means a device which is specifically manufactured or modified for
operation by a physically handicapped person and which has
(a)
a maximum speed capability of not more than 15 kilometres per hour,
(b)
a maximum width of not more than 81.2 centimetres, and
(c)
a maximum mass of not more than 226 kilograms,
and includes a motorized wheel chair;
"motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is propelled by a motor and includes an off-road
vehicle but does not include a motorized mobility aid;
"park" means real property, other than a golf course, that is
(a)
owned or leased by the City of Winnipeg or jointly operated by the City of
Winnipeg and a school division or some other person or organization; and
(b)
either
(i)
zoned PR1, PR2 or PR3 in the area governed by the Winnipeg Zoning
By-law No 200/2006 or zoned "park" or "park use" in the Downtown
Winnipeg Zoning By-law No 100/2004; or
amended 20/2017
(ii)
used principally for recreation, sports or as a nature preserve and
designated as a park for the purposes of this By-law by the Chief
Administrative Officer.
"tent" includes canopies and structures that are erected, placed, or otherwise set up for
the purpose of sheltering persons from outdoor environmental elements.
added 111/2025
Purpose of By-law
3
The purpose of this By-law is to:
(a)
maximize the opportunity of members of the public to enjoy a wide range of
recreational and leisure activities within City parks safely, comfortably and
conveniently;
(b)
minimize the risks of any activity in a park, including:
(i)
risks to public health, safety and security;
(ii)
risks of damage or harm to parks, including animals, animal
By-law No. 85/2009
3
habitat and flora within parks; and
(iii)
risks of harm to the environment generally; and
(c)
ensure to the greatest extent possible that any damage or harm to parks is
remedied and appropriate compensation is provided to the City of Winnipeg.
Application of By-law
4
This By-law applies to all parks within or outside the City of Winnipeg and may be enforced
by common law and statutory remedies in parks that are owned by the City of Winnipeg outside the
City boundaries.
PART 2 - ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
General powers of administration and enforcement
5(1) The Chief Administrative Officer, his or her delegates, and any enforcement officer may
conduct inspections and take steps to administer and enforce this By-law or remedy a
contravention of this By-law in accordance with The City of Winnipeg Charter and, for these
purposes, have the powers of a designated employee under The City of Winnipeg Charter.
5(2) The Chief Administrative Officer may appoint employees of the City of Winnipeg to
administer or enforce this By-law.
Power to designate areas
6(1) In order to achieve the purposes of this By-law, the Chief Administrative Officer is
authorized to designate parks or areas of parks:
amended 92/2013
(a)
to be exclusively reserved for specific uses or activities at all times or at
specified times or days ;
(b)
to be reserved for the exclusive use of particular individuals or groups;
(c)
in which specific uses or activities are prohibited;
(d)
in which certain animals or categories of animals are permitted or
prohibited.
6(2) Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Chief Administrative Officer may
designate parks or areas of parks in which dogs are not required to be restrained by leashes.
The Chief Administrative Officer may only make such a designation if he or she determines that
the parks or areas of parks so designated will minimize the risks that unleashed dogs will
amended 146/2013
(a)
be injured by or interfere with nearby vehicular, railroad or pedestrian traffic;
By-law No. 85/2009
4
(b)
interfere with activities taking place in or on children's play areas, school
grounds, athletic fields and public open spaces, including picnic areas and
public gardens.
added 92/2013 (subsection 6(2) inclusive)
Authorizations
7(1) Where this or another By-law provides that an activity in a park is permitted only if
authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer may authorize the
activity if
(a)
the activity does not violate this or another By-law or statute;
(b)
the applicant has paid any applicable fee relating to the activity; and
(c)
the activity supports the purposes of this By-law.
7(2) The Chief Administrative Officer is authorized to establish the form and required information
in an application for an authorization under subsection (1) as well as appropriate deadlines for
submitting applications.
7(3) In authorizing activities under subsection (1), the Chief Administrative Officer may impose
conditions on the authorization that are designed to ensure that the purposes of this By-law are
met.
7(4) A violation of a condition imposed under subsection (3) constitutes an offence under this
By-law.
7(5) Where a condition imposed under subsection (3) includes the provision of a deposit, upon
application by the person who provided the deposit, the Chief Administrative Officer must refund
the deposit if the activity has not resulted in harm or damage to the park and has otherwise been
conducted in compliance with this By-law and the conditions imposed on the authorization.
Authority to close or restrict access
8(1) The Chief Administrative Officer is authorized to prohibit or restrict access to a park or an
area of a park for any period of time, whether on an occasional or regularly scheduled basis,
consistent with the purposes of this By-law.
8(2) A person must not enter or be in a park or an area of a park in violation of a closure or
restriction imposed under subsection (1).
Authority to make rules
9(1) The Chief Administrative Officer may make rules that are not inconsistent with this By-law in
order to further the purposes of this By-law and to ensure the proper administration of parks.
By-law No. 85/2009
5
9(2) The authority to make rules referred to in subsection (1) includes the authority to prohibit
particular activities in a park or all parks.
9(3)
A violation of a rule imposed under subsection 9(1) constitutes an offence under this By-
law.
added 111/2025
Authority to post signs
10(1) The Chief Administrative Officer may post signs or notices within parks bearing the seal or
logo of the City of Winnipeg.
10(2) A person must observe and comply with the prohibitions, restrictions or rules set out on a
sign or notice posted in a park that bears the seal or logo of the City of Winnipeg unless it can be
shown that the sign or notice was not posted under the authority granted in subsection (1).
PART 3 - PROHIBITED AND REGULATED ACTIVITIES IN PARKS
Rules not applicable to enforcement officers or City employees
11
This Part does not apply to:
(a)
enforcement officers;
(b)
employees of the City of Winnipeg while carrying out their duties; or
(c)
individuals or employees of businesses authorized by the City of Winnipeg to
carry out work in a park, to the extent that contraventions of this By-law are
necessary in order to carry out the work.
Possession and use of weapons prohibited
12(1) A person must not have a firearm in his or her possession within a park other than in an
area and at a time designated by the Chief Administrative Officer for this purpose.
12(2) A person must not have a slingshot, bow or similar weapon in his or her possession within a
park.
12(3) A person must not throw a stone, fire a firearm or use any other weapon within a park other
than in an area and at a time designated by the Chief Administrative Officer for this purpose.
Fires regulated
13
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not, within a park:
(a)
light a fire except in a container provided for this purpose;
By-law No. 85/2009
6
(b)
throw or place a lighted match, cigarette, cigar or any other burning
substance on the ground or on the floor of any structure without ensuring
that it is immediately extinguished.
Littering prohibited
14
A person must not throw, discard, drip, deposit or leave litter or garbage in a park except in
a container provided or an area designated for that purpose.
Dumping prohibited
15
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not leave or deposit
grass clippings, tree branches, garden or yard waste, soil, concrete, building materials, snow or any
other similar substance within a park.
Encroachment by adjacent property owners
16
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, the owner or occupant of property
adjacent to a park must not
(a)
erect a fence, hedge, building or any other structure in a park or allow any
structure to encroach into a park;
(b)
remove or plant vegetation in a park;
(c)
change the grade of land in a park;
(d)
drive a vehicle on land that is not a roadway; or
(e)
park a vehicle on land that is not designated for vehicle parking.
Damage to park
17
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not
(a)
disturb, remove or damage a tree, branch, flower, plant or other vegetation
in a park;
(b)
disturb, remove or damage soil or turf in a park, including embedding stakes
in soil or turf;
(c)
release or deposit any substance or thing into, or otherwise pollute or foul a
fountain, lake, stream, pool, pond, well, spring or other body of water within
a park; or
(d)
cause harm or damage to any building or structure in a park.
By-law No. 85/2009
7
Disturbing animals prohibited
18(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person must not, the parent, guardian or person in charge of a
minor must not permit the minor to, and, subject to the Responsible Pet Ownership By-law, the
owner or person in charge of a dog must not permit the dog to:
amended 56/2017
(a)
tease, annoy, disturb or interfere with an animal;
(b)
strike, injure, maim or kill an animal;
(c)
disturb, harm or destroy the habitat of an animal, including the nests of
birds.
18(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person may fish in areas of parks designated for this
purpose.
Animals in parks
19(1) A person may bring a cat or dog into a park except in a designated area in which that
animal is prohibited.
19(2) A person must not bring an animal other than a dog or cat into a park except in a
designated area in which that animal is permitted or with the authorization of the Chief
Administrative Officer.
Camping
20
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not set up a tent or a
recreational vehicle in a park and a person must not sleep overnight in a park.
Noise restricted
21(1) In addition to complying with Part Five of the Neighbourhood Liveability By-law (Noise
Control) and other by-laws restricting or controlling noise, a person in a park must not between the
hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. make, cause or permit to be made a noise which disturbs a
reasonable individual of ordinary sensitivity occupying a property adjacent to or near the park.
21(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to noise created as a result of activities that have been
authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Posting signs
22(1) Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not post a sign or
notice in a park.
22(2) Unless the Chief Administrative Officer has specifically authorized a sign to be posted for a
longer period of time, a sign posted in a park must be removed within 24 hours by the person who
posted it.
By-law No. 85/2009
8
Traffic rules
23
Except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this By-law or with actions taken by the
Chief Administrative Officer pursuant to authority granted by this By-law, the provisions of the
Streets By-law, the Traffic By-law and The Highway Traffic Act apply to vehicular traffic and to
roadways within parks, and a violation of a provision of those by-laws or that Act constitutes an
offence under this By-law.
Speed limit
24
A person must not operate a vehicle at a speed exceeding 30 kilometres per hour in a park.
Off-road use of motor vehicles
25
Unless specifically authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer to do so, a person must not
operate a motor vehicle in a park except on a roadway or in an area designated for this purpose.
Non-motorized vehicles or equipment
26
A person may operate or use non-motorized vehicles or equipment, including a bicycle,
roller-blades or a skateboard, on a roadway in a park unless use of the vehicle or equipment in a
park or area of a park has been prohibited by the Chief Administrative Officer.
Multi-use paths
27
A person must not travel on a multi-use path in a park in or on a motorized vehicle except in
or on a motorized mobility aid, as that term is defined in The Highway Traffic Act.
Swimming and bathing
28
A person must not swim, wade or bathe in or enter into a fountain, lake, stream, pool,
pond, well, spring, water retention pond or other body of water in a park except in a pool or body
of water designated for this purpose or with the authorization of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Watercraft
29(1) Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not operate any
watercraft in a park.
29(2) A person must not tie up, load or unload any motorized watercraft in a park except at a
place designated for this purpose by the Chief Administrative Officer.
29(3) A person operating or riding watercraft in a park must not disturb any waterfowl or act in a
noisy, disorderly or unsafe manner.
By-law No. 85/2009
9
Business activities
30
Unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer to do so, a person must not
(a)
use a park as a place of business; or
(b)
carry on any commercial activities in a park;
Public meetings and parades
31
A person must not hold or take part in a public meeting or organize or take part in a parade
within a park unless written authorization for the public meeting or parade has been granted by the
Chief Administrative Officer.
Recreation in designated areas
32
A person must not engage in any activities that violate a designation imposed by the Chief
Administrative Officer or that interfere or could interfere with activities permitted in a designated
area.
Fee for use
33(1) Where a fee has been established under section 37 for entry to a park or an area of a park
or engaging in a particular use of a park or an area of a park, a person must not enter the park or
area of a park or engage in that use of the park or area of the park without having paid the fee.
33(2) Where a fee has been established under section 37 for the exclusive right to use a park or
area of a park for a specified period of time a person is not entitled to the exclusive use of a park
or an area of a park unless he or she pays the fee established under this By-law for the exclusive
use of that park or park area.
Park hours
34(1) Unless authorized to do so by the Chief Administrative Officer, a person must not enter or
be in a park when a park or part of a park is closed to the public.
34(2) A park or part of a park is closed to the public when the Chief Administrative Officer has
established hours during which the park or part of the park is closed to the public and
(a)
signs have been posted advising of the time when the park or part of the
park is closed to the public; or
(b)
gates at entrances to the park have been closed.
By-law No. 85/2009
10
PART 4 - PENALTIES AND REMEDIES
Penalties
35(1) Subject to the Municipal By-law Enforcement Act (MBEA) Enabling By-law, a person who
contravenes a provision of this By-law that is referred to in Schedule A of the Municipal By-law
Enforcement Act (MBEA) Enabling By-law must pay the administrative penalty for that
contravention set out in that Schedule. If an Early Payment Discount amount is set out for a
provision in that Schedule, a person who is issued a penalty notice for a contravention of that
provision may, within 14 days after the penalty notice has been issued, voluntarily pay to The City
of Winnipeg the applicable Early Payment Discount amount and will thereafter not be prosecuted
for the contravention.
amended 56/2017
35(2) Schedule A to this By-law sets out provisions of this By-law that are enforceable by way of a
preset fine under The Provincial Offences Act. If Schedule A sets out a preset fine for a provision, a
person who contravenes that provision must pay that preset fine, plus applicable court costs and
surcharges under The Provincial Offences Act.
amended 56/2017
35(3) Despite subsection (2), if Schedule A sets out a minimum fine for a provision, a person who
contravenes that provision must pay a fine imposed by a justice under The Provincial Offences Act
that is not less than the minimum fine set out, plus applicable court costs and surcharges under
The Provincial Offences Act.
amended 56/2017
35(4) Despite subsections (2) and (3), if an Early Payment Discount amount is set out for a
provision referred to in Schedule A to this By-law, a person who is issued a ticket for a
contravention of that provision may, within 14 days after the ticket has been signed, voluntarily pay
to The City of Winnipeg the applicable Early Payment Discount amount and will thereafter not be
prosecuted for the contravention.
added 56/2017
Removal from park
36(1) A person who
(a)
violates a provision of this By-law; or
(b)
disturbs or threatens to disturb the enjoyment of a park by other users of
the park;
is not authorized to be in the park and is trespassing. In addition to initiating a prosecution for a
violation of this By-law, an enforcement officer is authorized to order such a person, verbally or in
writing, to leave the park immediately.
36(2) A person who has been ordered to leave the park under subsection (1) but refuses to
comply with the order is guilty of an offence.
By-law No. 85/2009
11
36(3)
repealed 48/2024
Appeal of order or decision
36.1 Where a person is entitled to an appeal of an order or a decision under this By-law by
virtue of The City of Winnipeg Charter, the appeal may be made to the Standing Policy
Committee on Community Services in accordance with The City of Winnipeg Charter.
added 111/2025
PART 5 - FEES
Determination of fees
37(1) Council may by resolution establish and determine the amount of fees for
(a)
entry to a park or an area of a park;
(b)
engaging in a particular use of a park or an area of a park;
(c)
the exclusive right to use a park or area of a park for a specified period of
time;
(d)
any service, facility, amenity, equipment, use or activity within a park;
or may delegate this authority to the Chief Administrative Officer.
37(2) Council may enter into agreements for the use or administration of all or part of a park.
PART 6 - TRANSITION AND REPEAL
Transition
38
Any power exercised and, in particular, any rules or regulations and any designations made,
under the Parks and Recreation By-law No. 3219/82 are hereby continued and remain in effect until
altered by the Chief Administrative Officer under this By-law.
Parks and Recreation By-law replaced
39
This By-law is a successor to the City of Winnipeg Parks and Recreation By-law No. 3219/82
and a reference in any by-law, policy, resolution or other document to the Parks and Recreation By-
law No. 3219/82 is deemed to be a reference to this By-law.
Repeal of Parks and Recreation By-law
40
Subject to section 38 (Transition), and section 39 (Parks and Recreation By-law replaced),
the Parks and Recreation By-law No. 3219/82 is repealed.
By-law No. 85/2009
12
Coming into force
41
This By-law comes into force on June 1, 2009.
DONE AND PASSED, this 27th day of May, 2009.
By-law No. 85/2009
13
SCHEDULE A
Specified Fine Provisions
Enforceable through The Provincial Offences Act
amended 56/2017
Provision
Contravention Summary
Preset Fine ($) Early
Payment
Discount
24
Speeding
$7.70 for each
kilometer per
hour over speed
limit
32
Engage in unauthorized activity in
designated area or interfere with
designated activities
$150.00
36(2)
Remain in park after being ordered to
leave
400.00