City of Waterloo declares Community Safety Event, will enforce Nuisance Bylaw for St. Patrick’s Day

The City of Waterloo has declared a Community Safety Event and street parking ban in the post-secondary district, effective from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 14 2026 and again from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 2026. A Community Safety Event is declared in anticipation of an event that may cause public safety or nuisance concerns, such as an unsanctioned street gathering. Officers from Waterloo Regional Police Service and Municipal Enforcement Services will be enforcing the City’s Nuisance Bylaw and other regulations for community safety and wellbeing through the weekend and beyond. 

The City’s Nuisance Bylaw is always in effect. Under the updated bylaw, you cannot:

• intentionally block sidewalks or remain on roadways to force a street closure
• block roads or sidewalks when a nuisance is being created
• remain on the roadway if police or bylaw officers direct you to leave for public safety reasons

The City of Waterloo did not seek an injunction order for the 2026 St. Patrick’s Day period, based on the experience of the past several years where people have continued to gather in the street without consideration for consequences. Officers continue to have the ability to lay charges, as demonstrated in previous years, without an injunction. 

Charges will be laid again this year if people do not follow bylaws and regulations, or heed officer instructions with regard to those regulations. Tickets can also be issued for noise violations, roofing, littering, public urination, and garbage and property standards, including after the event. Fine amounts are available at waterloo.ca/post-secondary-safety.

Responding to unsafe, unsanctioned events puts strain on the City of Waterloo and community partner services. When police, fire, paramedics, bylaw and local hospitals are busy responding to a large street gathering, residents across Waterloo Region are put at risk.  

The City encourages everyone to celebrate safely this weekend and in the coming days, in ways that don’t impact the larger community or local emergency services.

No parking area