Waterloo eyes St. Patrick’s Day, tightens street gathering rules
Posted Feb 24, 2026 06:51:46 AM.
Last Updated Feb 24, 2026 11:30:13 AM.
St. Patrick’s Day is just three weeks away, and the City of Waterloo has tightened its street gathering rules in hopes of preventing larger, disruptive parties before they start.
City councillors are doing that through two main updates to the city’s nuisance bylaws, making changes to certain provisions that would help those bylaw enforcement officers take a more proactive approach, rather than a reactive one, like in years past.
“The nuisance party provision was an amendment in 2023 and has been helpful in managing challenging gatherings at private residences that are encroaching on the sidewalks and highways,” reads the staff report delivered to councillors. “However, during ongoing operations, staff have observed that obstruction can also occur when individuals intentionally block sidewalks or remain on roadways to force a street closure.”
While the updates may not sound too unfamiliar or drastic from what’s expected, the city said the main focus is to clarify what can and cannot be done by both students, bylaw officers and other groups ahead of St. Patrick’s Day or other large holidays.
“While this behaviour is already prohibited as part of a nuisance party, staff are recommending a stand-alone provision be added to the nuisance bylaw, which will clarify existing authority and align with other municipalities,” the report stated.
Nuisance bylaw changes include:
- Prohibit obstructing highways and pedestrian areas when a nuisance is being created
- Require individuals to leave the highway when directed by enforcement or police for public safety reasons
It comes after the city and other areas of Waterloo Region saw some disruptive, larger gatherings during St. Patrick’s Days in recent years, leading to traffic delays, safety concerns, and an increased workload for Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS).
According to data released last year by WRPS, 17 individuals were arrested, and 250 charges were laid between March 15 and 17 through the St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
A court injunction was also in effect during the weekend, allowing the arrest or detention of anyone attending, hosting, creating, or sponsoring an unsanctioned street party or violating the city’s nuisance bylaw in the university district.
The updated nuisance bylaws don’t just make those provisions enforceable and finable under city rules, but also give those bylaw officers the ability to enforce those changes preemptively, ahead of those street gatherings even forming.
“This behaviour could be addressed under our current nuisance party regulations, but requires enforcement officers to wait until a large gathering has formed,” said the report. “The proposed update will allow staff to take a more proactive, consistent and clear response in preventing a large gathering.
The street gathering and nuisance bylaw changes were approved by Waterloo city council during its latest meeting, with those nuisance bylaw updates and provisions now in effect ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.
“In collaboration and partnerships with student groups, the universities, and emergency service partners, these updates will continue to advance legislative improvements and will provide clearer expectations for the public, reduce ambiguity for municipal enforcement staff responding to dynamic safety situations and protect public safety.”
