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THE CITY OF VAUGHAN
BY-LAW
SPECIAL EVENTS
(Consolidated Version - Enacted as By-law 045-2018)
Last consolidated on July 23, 2024. City of Vaughan by- laws
are provided online for convenient public reference. By- laws
are consolidated on an ongoing basis, but recent
amendments may not be reflected in the latest consolidated
version. Check the Amendment History to get a complete
listing of all pertinent regulations. For further information
contact the Office of the Director and Chief Licensing Officer.
A By-law to regulate special events within the City of Vaughan, to repeal Special
Events By-law Number 370-2004, as amended, and Outdoor Exhibition By-law
Number 373-2004, as amended.
WHEREAS section 8(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides that sections
8 and 11 shall be interpreted broadly as to confer broad authority on municipalities to (a)
enable them to govern their affairs as they consider appropriate, and (b) enhance their
ability to respond to municipal issues;
AND WHEREAS 8(3) of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides that a by-law
under sections 10 and 11 respecting a matter may regulate or prohibit respecting the
matter, require persons to do things respecting the matter, and provide for a system of
licences respecting the matter;
AND WHEREAS section 11(2)6 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for
a municipality to pass by-laws respecting the health, safety and well-being of persons;
AND WHEREAS section 11(3)5 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for
a municipality to pass by-laws respecting culture, parks, recreation and heritage;
AND WHEREAS section 126 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25, without limiting
its powers to regulate or prohibit respecting a matter under sections 10 and 11, provides
that a local municipality may regulate cultural, recreational and educational events,
including public fairs, prohibit such events unless a permit is obtained from the
municipality, impose conditions for obtaining, and continuing to hold and renewing
permits;
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AND WHEREAS section 425 of the Municipal Act, 2001, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for a
municipality to pass by-laws providing that a person who contravenes a by-law of the
municipality passed under the Act is guilty of an offence;
AND WHEREAS section 426 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides that no
person shall, or attempt to, hinder or obstruct any person who is exercising a power or
performing a duty under this Act or under a by-law passed under this Act;
AND WHEREAS section 429 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for a
municipality to establish a system of fines for offences under a by-law of the municipality
passed under this Act;
AND WHEREAS section 436 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for a
municipality to pass by-laws that authorize it to enter on land at any reasonable time for
the purpose of carrying out an inspection, require information, inspect documents, and
take samples;
AND WHEREAS sections 444 and 445 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for
a municipality to make an order to either discontinue a contravening activity or do work to
correct a contravention;
AND WHEREAS section 446 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25 provides for a
municipality to do a matter or thing at a person's expense if such person fails to do it
pursuant to an order of the municipality;
AND WHEREAS the Council of The Corporation of the City of Vaughan wishes to
maintain public safety, control nuisances, and promote community standards, by
regulating the manner in which public events organized by individuals or organizations
are conducted;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of The Corporation of the City of Vaughan enacts this
By-law to establish conditions and grant permits for Special Events, regulate activities
therein, and where appropriate, refuse, suspend or revoke such permits.
Table of Contents
1.0 Authority and Short Title ............................................................................................3
2.0 Applicability and Scope ............................................................................................ 3
3.0 Definitions .................................................................................................................. 3
4.0 Special Event Permits ............................................................................................... 8
4.1 Prohibitions and Restrictions on Car Rallies ......................................................... 10
5.0 Special Event Restrictions ....................................................................................... 11
6.0 Duties of Permit Holders .......................................................................................... 12
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7.0 Recovery of Costs .................................................................................................... 13
8.0 Enforcement Powers ................................................................................................ 13
9.0 Delegation ................................................................................................................. 14
10.0 Fines ........................................................................................................................ 14
11.0 Administrative Monetary Penalties ....................................................................... 14
12.0 Repeal and Amendment of Other By-laws ............................................................ 15
12.1 Conflict with Other By-laws ................................................................................... 15
13.0 Force and Effect ..................................................................................................... 15
Schedule A ...................................................................................................................... 16
[Sections 1-29 of By-law 045-2018 replaced by parts 1.0 - 12.0 of By-law 061-2019 on
May 1, 2019.]
1.0 Authority and Short Title
This By-law was approved by Item 12 of Report 11 of the Committee of the
Whole and passed by City Council on March 19, 2019.
This By-law shall be known and may be cited as the "Special Events By-law."
2.0 Applicability and Scope
The provisions of this By-law apply to all Special Events, as defined in this By-
law, within the boundaries of the City of Vaughan;
Despite 2.0(1), the provisions of this by-law do not apply to any event held by the
City.
3.0 Definitions
In this By-law,
"Applicant" means a Person seeking to hold a Special Event permit and, either in
person or through an Authorized Agent, makes such an application. Where the
proposed Special Event takes place on private property, the owner of such
private property shall be considered jointly an Applicant;
"Authorized Agent" means a Person authorized in writing by an Applicant or
Permit Holder to act on behalf of such Applicant or Permit Holder for the
identified purpose of making an application or otherwise complying with the
provisions of this By-law;
"Car Rally" means any formal or informal event or exhibition consisting of the
gathering of Motor Vehicles. Such event may include, but is not, limited to Street-
takeovers, Contests or Stunts; [Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on
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March 26, 2024]
"Charitable Event" means any event carried out by a charity registered under
Canada's Not-for-profit Corporation Act S.C. 2009, c.23 or by any other group,
where the funds raised are for a registered charity;
"Chief Building Official" means the Chief Building Official for the City of Vaughan
and his or her designate; [Added by section 8 of By-law 081-2019 on June 12,
2019.]
"Chief Fire Official" means the Chief of the Fire Department for the City of
Vaughan, or a person designated to act on his or her behalf;
"Chief of Police" means the Chief of the York Regional Police Department or a
person designated to act on his or her behalf;
"City" means the Corporation of the City of Vaughan, in the Regional
Municipality of York, its employees, and agents authorized to act on the
Corporation's behalf;
"City Facility" means any administrative building, city yard, community centre,
library, fire station, park or parquette, sports field, municipal golf course, or
cemetery owned or managed by the City;
"City Property" means all real property owned or managed by the City and
includes, but is not limited to, City Facilities, woodlands, open spaces,
Highways, and the Boulevard, but does not include any property owned by the
Regional, Provincial, or Federal Government, a Crown Corporation, Hydro,
Utility, or Railway Company;
"Community Service Organization" or "CSO" means a City-approved, Vaughan-
based, not for profit community organization run by an elected and volunteer
board of directors whose prime purpose is to provide recreation, cultural, leisure
or community services to the residents of Vaughan. Groups must be comprised
of a minimum of 75% residents except in the case of minor sports groups (aged
19 and under) that must be comprised of a minimum of 90% house-league
residents;
"Contest" means any activity where one or more Persons engage in any of the
following:
(a)
driving two or more Motor Vehicles at a rate of speed that is a marked
departure from the lawful rate of speed and in a manner that indicates the
drivers of the Motor Vehicles are engaged in a competition;
(b) driving a Motor Vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to chase another
Motor Vehicle;
(c) driving a Motor Vehicle without due care and attention, without reasonable
consideration for other Persons using the Highway, or in a manner that may
endanger any Person by:
(i)
driving a Motor Vehicle at a rate of speed that is a marked departure
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from the lawful rate of speed;
(ii)
outdistancing or attempting to outdistance one or more other Motor
Vehicles while driving at a rate of speed that is a marked departure from
the lawful rate of speed; or
(iii)
repeatedly changing lanes in close proximity to other Motor Vehicles
so as to advance through the ordinary flow of traffic while driving at a
rate of speed that is a marked departure from the lawful rate of speed;
(d)
racing a Motor Vehicle, tests of physical endurance involving Motor
Vehicles, including the excessive revving of their engines, or exhibition of
speed or acceleration on any Highway, roadway, property, or parking lot;
[Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on March 26, 2024]
"Director" means the Director and Chief Licensing Officer of By-law & Compliance,
Licensing & Permit Services, or his or her designate;
"Expenses" means any and all sums of money actually spent or required to be
spent by the City, and shall include, but not be limited to the following: charges,
costs, application fees, administration fees, dispute resolution/mediation fees,
taxes, outlays, legal fees and losses;
"Farmers' Market" has the same meaning as the term defined in R.R.O. 1990,
Reg. 562, and which exempts such Farmers' Markets from its provisions and
that also meets the exemption requirements under Section 2 of O. Reg. 119/11;
"For-Purpose Venue" means a premises for an event that:
(a)
is licensed by the City, or otherwise permitted to operate;
(b)
does not contravene the City's Zoning By-law through the activities
proposed for the event; and
(c)
does not contravene any other City by-law through the activities
proposed for the event;
"Highway" means a a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway,
driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended
for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the
area between the lateral property lines thereof;
"Medical Officer of Health" means the Medical Officer of Health for the
Regional Municipality of York or a person designated to act on his or her
behalf;
"Motor Vehicle" means an automobile, motorcycle, motor assisted bicycle
and any other vehicle propelled or driven otherwise than by muscular power;
[Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on March 26, 2024]
"Municipal Law Enforcement Officer" or "MLEO" means a Person appointed or
employed by the City as a municipal law enforcement officer under the Police
Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.15, as amended;
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"Open to the Public" in reference to a Special Event, means that any of the
following is true:
(a)
access to the event does not depend on the receipt of a personal
invitation to identifiable individuals;
(b)
the number of invitations exceeds the capacity of the venue; or
(c)
the event is advertised to the general public;
"Order" means a written direction by the Director, under the authority of sections
444 or 445 of the Municipal Act, S.O. 2001, c.25, as amended, requiring a
Person to cease a contravening activity or correct a contravention. An Order
shall be served in person or by registered post with the effective date of service
being deemed five business days after mailing;
"Outdoors" in reference to this By-law means not fully enclosed on all sides by
solid, closed-construction walls and a solid, closed-construction roof;
"Passenger" means a Person inside or on any part of a Motor Vehicle that is
not in the driver seat; [Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on
March 26, 2024]
"Permit Holder" means an Applicant once a Special Event permit has been
granted. Where the proposed Special Event takes place on private property, the
owner of such private property shall be considered jointly an Applicant;
"Person" includes a natural individual, a corporation, partnership, proprietorship or
other form of business association and the heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns, or other legal representatives thereof, or a receiver or
mortgagee in possession;
"Place of Worship" means a premises or part thereof where religious worship,
services or rites are performed by a religious organization, as defined under the
Religious Organizations' Lands Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. R.23;
"Public Boulevard" means that part of a Highway that is not used, or intended to be
used, for vehicular travel by the general public, and is situated between the travelled
portion of the road and the adjoining property line, including the
0.3 metre reserve, where applicable;
"Rental Contract" means a contract between the City and a Person for the use
of a City Facility;
"Same Nature" means a event having the same or similar theme or subject
matter as another;
"Special Event" means any event that is either:
(a)
open to the Public and takes place Outdoors or in a City Facility;
(b)
open to the Public and takes place in a private venue that is not a For-Purpose
Venue; or
(c)
an event that takes place Outdoors and in a private venue that is not a For-
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Purpose Venue.
"Spectator" means any Person who is present at a Car Rally. For purposes of
determining whether a Person is a Spectator, finders of fact shall consider:
(a)
the relationship between the alleged Spectator and operator of a Motor
Vehicle; and
(b)
evidence of gambling or betting on the outcome of a Contest or Stunt;
(c)
filming or recording the event, posting the event on social media, and any
other factor that would tend to show knowing attendance or participation.
For greater certainty, a Person will still be a Spectator even if that Person did not
have direct knowledge of the fact that the event did not have a Permit issued under
this By-law. This definition excludes bona fide members of the news media for news
media purposes; [Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on March 26,
2024]
"Street-takeover" means the taking over of a portion of a Highway, roadway, or
parking lot, by blocking or impeding the regular flow of traffic, to perform Contests or
Stunts; [Added by subsection 1.(b) of By-law 047-2024 on March 26, 2024]
"Stunt" means any activity where a Person engages in any of the following:
(a) driving a Motor Vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to lift some or
all of its tires from the surface of the ground, but not including the use of lift
axles on commercial Motor Vehicles;
(b)
driving a Motor Vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to cause some
or all of its tires to lose traction with the surface of the road;
(c)
driving a Motor Vehicle in a manner that indicates an intention to spin it or
cause it to circle, without maintaining control over it;
(d) driving two or more Motor Vehicles side by side or in proximity to each other,
where one of the Motor Vehicles occupies a lane of traffic or other portion of
the Highway intended for use by oncoming traffic for a period of time that is
longer than is reasonably required to pass another Motor Vehicle;
(e)
driving a Motor Vehicle with a Person in the trunk or on top of the Motor
Vehicle;
(f)
driving a Motor Vehicle while the driver is not sitting in the driver's seat;
(g) driving a Motor Vehicle without due care and attention, without reasonable
consideration for other Persons, or in a manner that may endanger any
Person;
(h)
operating a Motor Vehicle for the purpose of filming or recording activities of
a Street-takeover, Contest, or exhibition;
(i)
performing a burnout whereby a Motor Vehicle is kept stationary, or is in
motion, while the wheels are spun, resulting in friction which may cause the
Motor Vehicle's tires to emit smoke, flames or sparks;
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(j)
performing a doughnut whereby the front or rear of the Motor Vehicle is rotated
around the opposite set of wheels in a continuous motion which may cause a
circular skid-mark pattern of rubber on the driving surface or the tires to emit
smoke from friction, or both. [Added by subsection 1.(b) of By- law 047-2024
on March 26, 2024]
4.0 Special Event Permits
No Person shall hold, carry on, engage in, or conduct a Special Event in the city
without a valid Special Event permit.
Only a Person may apply for a Special Event permit.
Section 4.0(1) does not apply to:
(a) a Farmers Market, as defined;
(b) a Place of Worship, as defined;
(c) any political rally or protest.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this By-law, including the definition of
"Special Event", the Director may require a Special Event permit for any event if
he or she has reasonable grounds to believe that doing so is in the public's best
interest.
Application for a Special Event permit shall be made at least fifteen (15) business
days prior to the event and shall be accompanied by the following:
(a) the prescribed application forms;
(b) the appropriate permit application fee as set out in the Fees and Charges By-
law;
(c) any other documentation or information required by the Director.
Any application for a Special Event that is not received within fifteen (15) business
days prior to the event may still be processed but the Applicant or any other
affected parties shall not have any recourse if the permit cannot be issued in time
for the event.
Application fees are non-refundable and must be paid before the application is
processed.
(7.1) If a fee for a particular year is not prescribed in Fees and Charges By-law 171-
2013, as amended, or its successor by-law, and a budget has not been passed by
January 1st in a given year, the Treasurer is authorized to apply a 3 per cent
increase to the fee applied in the previous year to account for economic
adjustment. [Added by subsection 2(a) of By-law 160-2019 on November 19,
2019.]
Despite 4.0(5)(b), a Charitable Event and events held by a Community Service
Organization shall be exempt from the permit application fee.
An application for a Special Event that makes use of a Highway or Public
Boulevard requires a deposit as set out in the Fees and Charges By-law.
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Applicants shall provide the maximum number of attendees to be present at the
event at any given time, and this number shall not exceed the venue capacity.
The Director may require, for any Special Event permit application, that
Applicants:
(a) provide a traffic control plan;
(b) provide a crowd control plan;
(c) provide an emergency response plan;
(d) provide a noise attenuation plan;
(e) notify affected residents, as specified;
(f)
provide a plan of the venue's layout that identifies all permanent and
temporary structures to be present at the event;
(g) provide proof of general liability insurance in an amount satisfactory to the
Director;
(h) pay a damage deposit fee in accordance with the Fees and Charges By-law;
(i)
produce any other documentation as required by the Director;
(j)
provide proof of legal status if the Applicant is not a natural individual;
(k) provide a tentative Rental Contract if the Applicant is intending to use a City
Facility;
(l)
provide proof that the required number of private security, York Regional
police officers, and first responders has been arranged and secured for the
proposed event; [Amended by section 2. of By-law 122-2024 on June 25,
2024]
(m) provide a copy of the Special Occasion Permit or the Liquor Licence of the
venue as issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission, if alcohol is being
served at the proposed event; and
(n) provide written authorization from the property owner if the special event
venue is located on private property;
(o) provide a list of the name(s) and phone numbers of all contact Persons
for the Special Event. [Added by section 3. of By-law 122-2024 on June
25, 2024]
The Director may impose any additional requirements to ensure the health and
safety of the public or to control any potential nuisances, as part of the conditions
of the Special Event permit.
The Applicant for the Special Event permit shall be responsible for any costs
relating to any and all of the requirements under this By-law, including but not
limited to pay-duty first responders, road closures, and noise monitoring.
The Applicant for a Special Event permit shall provide proof, to the satisfaction of
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the Director and prior to the issuance of the permit, that all of the conditions of the
application and/or permit have been met.
(15) The Director may refuse to issue, suspend, or revoke a permit for any of the
following reasons:
(a)
he or she has grounds to believe that the Applicant has not met or will not
meet the conditions necessary to obtain the permit;
(b)
the Applicant furnishes any information on the application that is false or
inaccurate;
(c)
the Applicant has failed to comply with any of the City's by-laws in
connection with any past Special Event;
(d)
the Permit Holder has not complied with a provision of this By-law;
(e)
the Permit Holder has not complied with a condition of the permit; and the
City shall not be responsible or liable for any damages or legal action
arising against the Applicant or Permit Holder as a result of such
decision. [Amended by section 4. of By-law 122-2024 on June 25, 2024]
The Director may, at his or her discretion, use any amount from the damage
deposit under subsection 4.0(11)(h) to cover any remedial action or other costs
incurred by the City as a result of the Special Event, whether caused by event
organizers or event participants.
The Chief of Police, the Chief Fire Official, the Medical Officer of Health and the
Chief Building Official shall be notified of every application for a Special Event
permit and no permit shall be issued in instances where any of the foregoing
objects to the permit being issued. [Amended by section 9 of By-law 081-2019 on
June 12, 2019.]
In the instance where an application for a Special Event is denied, the Applicant
shall be notified of the decision.
(19) The Director's decision, pursuant to section 4.0(15), is final with respect to the
issuance, suspension or revocation of any Special Event permit. [Amended by
section 9 of By-law 081-2019 on June 12, 2019.]
4.1 Prohibitions and Restrictions on Car Rallies
(1)
No Person shall sponsor, collect money for, conduct, coordinate, facilitate, assist,
advertise, continue, host, create, cause, permit, be a vendor at and/or participate
in any Car Rally that has not been granted a Special Event permit under this By-
law.
(2)
Despite 4.1(1), a permit shall not be granted to any Car Rally that includes a
Contest, Stunt or Street-takeover.
(3)
No Person shall be a Spectator and/or attend a Car Rally that has not been
granted a Special Event permit under this By-law.
(4)
No Person shall ride as a Passenger in a Motor Vehicle at a Car Rally that has
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not been granted a Special Event permit under this By-law.
(5)
No Motor Vehicle owner shall allow his or her Motor Vehicle to participate or be
used in a Car Rally that has not been granted a Special Event permit under this
By-law.
(6)
No Person shall purposefully cause the movement of traffic, including pedestrian
traffic, to slow, stop, or be impeded in any way as a consequence of a Car Rally.
(7)
In addition to a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, any member of a police force
with jurisdictional authority within the City, the Chief Fire Official and anyone else
appointed by the Director to administer Part 4.1 of this By-law may:
(a)
take any action within Part 4.1 of this By-law to enforce its provisions,
including the issue of Orders, penalty notices and charges against any
Persons found to be contravening this Part of this By-law;
(b)
order a road closure for the purposes of upholding any of the provisions of
Part 4.1 under this By-law;
(c)
temporarily close any road to public travel for the purpose of preventing or
stopping a Car Rally for a period of time of not more than three (3)
consecutive days;
(d)
otherwise restrict public access to the road allowance where a road
or portion of a road has been temporarily closed under Part 4.1 of this By-
law.
(8)
Despite section 10.1(3), the amount of an administrative monetary penalty for
a breach under Part 4.1 of this By-law is $1,000.00 for a first offence and
$2,000.00 for any subsequent offence.
(9)
Despite sections 4.1(8) and 10.1(3), the amount of an administrative
monetary penalty for a breach under sections 4.1(3) and 4.1(4) of this By-law
is $500.
(10)
The registered owner of the Motor Vehicle is presumed to have permitted his
or her Motor Vehicle to participate in a Car Rally, whether he had a direct
knowledge of this participation or not. [Added by section 2. of By-law 047-2024
on March 26, 2024]
5.0 Special Event Restrictions
A Special Event shall not:
(a) run for more than four consecutive days;
(b) be eligible for a permit within 30 days of the issue of a Special Event permit
for the same event;
(c) be eligible for more than 12 Special Event permits for the same event within
any 12-month period.
(d) include the consumption of Cannabis, except in accordance with Smoking
By-law 074-2019, as amended, section 2.0(2) or the promotion of Cannabis
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in any form. [Added by section 9 of By-law 081-2019 on June 12, 2019.]
Section 5.0(1)(b) shall not apply to a Charitable Event.
A Special Event shall be considered to be the same event if any of the following
apply:
(a) the Applicant, other than a Person deemed to be a joint Applicant on the
basis of them owning the private property on which a Special Event took
place, is the same Person as the Permit Holder for a previous event of the
Same Nature; [Amended by section 5. of By-law 122-2024 on June 25,
2024]
(b) any of the event organizers or sponsors were Permit Holders for a previous
event of the Same Nature;
(c) the advertising or communication for the event is in any way associated with
any other previous event of the Same Nature;
6.0 Duties of Permit Holders
Every Permit Holder and every Person acting on the Permit Holder's behalf shall:
(a) comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Special Event permit;
(b) follow all directions provided by a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer;
(c) provide access to all premises and equipment upon request by the City;
(d) comply with an Order issued by the Director; and
(e) comply with all applicable law;
(f)
ensure that at least one contact Person is available by phone and on site for
the duration of the Special Event, as well as at least one hour before the
Special Event begins, and one hour after the Special Event ends. [Added by
section 6. of By-law 122-2024 on June 25, 2024]
Every Person permitted or required to be permitted under this By-law shall ensure
that:
(a) access for emergency response is provided and maintained at all times
during the Special Event;
(b) all fire hydrants, private driveways, sidewalks, access ramps, and/or the
regular flow of vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic is not impeded;
(c) traffic is not stopped for more than a three (3) minute interval unless the
appropriate traffic plan has been submitted and approval has been granted
by the City;
(d) amplified sound is in compliance with the applicable provisions of the City's
Noise By-law, as amended; and
(e) [Deleted by section 7. of By-law 122-2024 on June 25, 2024].
Every Person holding, carrying on, and/or conducting a Special Event shall
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ensure that such Special Event is only held, carried on, and/or conducted
between the local times of 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. of the same day, or as
otherwise provided for in the terms of the Special Event permit.
Every Person who receives a permit or requires a permit under this By-law shall
ensure that once a Special Event has ended, all debris, litter, refuse and
equipment has been removed and the location of the Special Event is restored, to
the satisfaction of the City, to the condition prior to the Special Event.
Nothing in this By-law shall be interpreted as reducing or eliminating the need for
full compliance with the provisions of any and all other applicable by-laws or Acts
of the Province of Ontario or the Government of Canada.
A Permit Holder shall not allow the number of attendees to exceed the number
provided as per section 4.0(10).
7.0 Recovery of Costs
Deposits shall be applied to any damages or to any other costs incurred by the
City to bring the Highway or Public Boulevard back to its condition prior to the
event.
Where the costs associated with any remedial action taken by the City exceed the
amount of the damages deposit, the City shall issue a bill for the difference.
Where the bill is not paid in a timely manner, the billed amount shall be
considered a debt to the City and added to the tax roll of the event organizer(s).
8.0 Enforcement Powers
A Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may enter on land, premises, buildings or
venues at any reasonable time for the purpose of carrying out an inspection to
determine whether or not the following are being complied with:
(a) a provision of this By-law or any other by-law;
(b) the terms and conditions of a Special Event permit; or
(c) a direction or an Order.
A Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may, for the purposes of an inspection
pursuant to section 8.0(1) of this By-law:
(a) require the production for inspection of documents or things relevant to the
inspection, including but not limited to government-issued photo identification
and a Special Event permit;
(b) inspect and remove documents or things relevant to the inspection for the
purpose of making copies or extracts;
(c) require information from any Person concerning a matter related to the
inspection; and
(d) alone or in conjunction with a person possessing special or expert
knowledge, make examinations or take tests, samples or photographs
necessary for the purposes of the inspection.
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(2.1) For greater certainty, section 8.0(2) authorizes an Enforcement Officer to
require individuals to provide their name, address and identification, and the
Enforcement Officer is permitted to use that information in the course of the
investigation and to enforce this By-law. [Added by section 3. of By-law 047-
2024 on March 26, 2024]
A Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may issue an Order:
(a) requiring the Person who contravened the By-law or who caused or
permitted the contravention, or the owner or occupier of the land on which
the contravention occurred, or the Permit Holder, to discontinue the
contravening activity; and/or
(b) requiring the Person who contravened the By-law or who caused or
permitted the contravention, or the owner or occupier of the land on which
the contravention occurred, or the Permit Holder, to do work to correct the
contravention.
Pursuant to the authorization of the Director, a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer
may suspend or revoke a Special Event permit, for any violation of this By-law or
the Special Event permit.
No Person shall hinder or obstruct a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer from
performing any of his or her duties, as provided for in this By-law.
9.0 Delegation
The Director may close streets or parts thereof, and/or erect temporary sinage
prohibiting or otherwise regulating parking, if doing so is in the public interest and
is required to effectively enforce any of the provisions of this By-law, subject to
the Delegation By-law.
10.0 Fines [Amended by section 1.(a) of By-law 170-2020 on November 17, 2020.]
Every Person who contravenes a provision of this By-law and every director or
officer of a corporation who concurs in such contravention by a corporation, is
guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to the following fines:
(a) a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000 for every offence
committed;
(b) a fine of not less than $250 and not more than $5,000 for every day or part
thereof that an offence was committed;
(c) in the instance of a Special Event for which the Permit Holder was paid for
participation in the event (e.g., tickets were sold to the public or a fee was
charged to participating vendors or other businesses), a special fine equal to
the lesser of 50% of gross revenue or $100,000.
In addition to being an offence subject to the fines in Section 10.0(1), a Person
who does not comply with an Order may have anything that is required by that
Order be undertaken by the City at that Person's expense.
11.0 Administrative Monetary Penalties [Added by section 1.(b) of By-law 170-2020
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on November 17, 2020.]
(1)
Instead of laying a charge under the Provincial Offences Act, R.S.O. 1990,
Chapter P.33, as amended, for a breach of any provisions of this By-law, an
Officer may issue an administrativemonetary penalty to the Person who has
contravened this By-law.
(2)
If an administrative monetary penalty is issued to a Person under Section
10.1(1), and is paid by that Person, no charge shall be laid against that same
Person for the same breach.
(3)
The amount of the administrative monetary penalty for a breach under this By-
law is $250.00.
(4)
A Person who is issued an administrative monetary penalty shall be subject to
the procedures provided for in the Administrative Monetary Penalties By-law, as
amended or its successor by-law.
(5)
An administrative monetary penalty imposed on a Person constitutes a debt to
the City under the Administrative Monetary Penalties By-law, as amended or its
successor by-law, and may be added to the municipal tax roll and collected in the
same manner as municipal taxes.
12.0 Repeal and Amendment of Other By-laws
By-law 370-2004, as amended, and all of its amending by-laws, and By-law 373-
2004 are hereby repealed. [Renumbered by subsection 2(b) of By-law 160-2019
on November 19, 2019.]
[Former sections 31 and 32 have been deleted by subsection 2(c) of By-law 160-
2019 on November 19, 2019.]
(2)
Schedule 1 of the Administrative Monetary Penalties By-law is hereby amended
by including this By-law as a Designated By-law. [Amended by section 1.(c) of By-
law 170-2020 on November 17, 2020.]
12.1 Conflict with Other By-laws
(1) Where the provisions of this By-law are in conflict with those of any other
applicable by-law, unless specifically exempted under the terms of a Special Event
permit, the more restrictive provisions are applied. [Added by section 8. of By-law
122-2024 on June 25, 2024]
13.0 Force and Effect
This By-law shall come into force and effect on the date it is enacted.
[Renumbered by subsection 2(b) of By-law 160-2019 on November 19, 2019.]
Enacted by City of Vaughan Council this 1st day of May, 2019.
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Hon. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor
Todd Coles, City Clerk
Authorized by Item No.8 of Report No. 6
Of the Committee of the Whole
Adopted by Vaughan City Council on
February 21st, 2018.
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Schedule "A"
Special Event Permit Fees
[Deleted by section 1 of By-law 153-2019 on November 19, 2019]
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AMENDMENT HISTORY
SPECIAL EVENTS BY-LAW
DATE
(YYYY/MM/DD)
BY-LAW
AUTHORITY
CONSOLIDATED
2018 / 03 / 20
045-2018
Item 8, Report 6,
Committee of the Whole
2019 / 02 / 20
024-2019
Item 1, Report 2
Finance, Administration and Audit
Committee
Repealed
[by By-law 160-2019]
2019 / 05 / 01
061-2019
Item 12, Report 11,
Committee of the Whole
2019 / 06 / 12
081-2019
Item 44, Report 20,
Committee of the Whole
2019 / 11 / 19
153-2019
Item 11, Report 24,
Committee of the Whole
2019 / 11 / 19
160-2019
Item 11, Report 24,
Committee of the Whole
2020/ 11 / 17
170-2020
Item 6, Report 44, Committee of
the Whole 1
2024 / 03 / 26
047-2024
Item 6, Report 10, Committee of
the Whole
2024 / 06 / 25
122-2024
Item 21, Report 25, Committee of
the Whole