Bylaws related to graffiti

Graffiti is enforced under theCommunity Standards Bylaw 5M2004 section 19. This is an overview of these regulations. Please refer to the actual bylaw for more detailed information. Original copies of the bylaw are available at the City Clerk's office.

Overview of graffiti regulations

• Graffiti includes words, figures, letters, drawings or stickers applied, scribbled, scratched, etched, sprayed or attached on or to a surface.
• Applying graffiti is illegal.
• Property owners shall ensure that graffiti placed on their premises is removed, painted over, or otherwise permanently blocked from public view.
• Fines for violations of these regulations range between $150 for failure to remove graffiti to $5,000 for applying graffiti.

The impact of graffiti

Graffiti impacts all members of the community.

• Graffiti ruins the natural and architectural beauty of a city.
• Acts of vandalism decrease the city's attractiveness as a place to visit, conduct business, and invest in.
• Property owners are faced with the cost and task of cleaning up graffiti.
• Graffiti is often profane, obscene and offensive.
• Individuals and identifiable groups are hurt by discriminatory or hateful messages.

How you can minimize graffiti's impact?

• As a citizen, you can help manage graffiti where you live by recording, reporting and removing the graffiti.
• Be aware of the graffiti services and resources available to Calgarians.
• You can inform the younger members of your household about the impacts of graffiti by visiting the Think Responsibly website.
• If you become a victim of graffiti, you can take advantage of the Private Graffiti Abatement Program.
• You can organize a one-hour graffiti awareness workshop or a community clean-up by contacting Rick Haddow, manager of community relations by email or by calling 403-268-3656.

Filing a complaint

To report graffiti or a bylaw violation choose one of the following options:

• If the graffiti is in progress, call 9-1-1.
• If the graffiti is not in progress, call 3-1-1 (from within Calgary) or 403-268-CITY (2489) (from outside Calgary).
• Submit an online service request to 3-1-1.
• Contact Animal and Bylaw Services.