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Bylaws and Encampment History
Bylaws and Encampment History
Halifax Regional Municipality Bylaw P-600 "RESPECTING MUNICIPAL PARKS" currently prohibits encampments in parks through the following provisions:
Camping
8. (1) Camping is prohibited in a park unless otherwise posted or by permission.
(2) No person shall erect or place in a park anything for the purpose of temporary or permanent accommodation without permission.
Those who violate the bylaw are liable of an offence, and to a penalty on summary conviction of at least $100.
In early 2021, several encampments were established across Halifax, the most notable of these in a park outside the Halifax Central Library. In July of that year, the city’s chief administrative officer made a “conscious decision” to “quietly” clear the encampments. On August 18th 2021, police marched into the park before sunrise and began to dismantle tents and other structures. No warning was given to service providers of the action. Protests soon erupted against the evictions, and the police used pepper spray, reportedly on children as well as adults, and arrested twenty-four people. In the aftermath of the evictions, many encampment residents moved to another park in Halifax, Meagher Park.
Despite the City's subsequent allowance of encampments in certain locations (detailed below), Meagher Park was not one of those locations, and on July 5 2022, encampment residents were ordered to leave the park by July 17, ahead of reconstruction work. Some residents did not move, and a letter to the Chief of Police from the Executive Director of Parks and Recreation requested the police help to evict the residents from the park. Ultimately, all residents left the park without altercation, and the park was fenced off.
On May 3, 2023, the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners commissioned an independent civilian review for the encampment evictions by police in August 2021. The review was published on August 12, 2024. Among other things, the review called for greater oversight of the Police by the Board of Police Commissioners, and for the Board and the Police to "publicly commit to a human rights-based approach to address the needs of the unhoused and those who live in encampments".
Halifax Central Library Encampment Eviction, 2021
Meagher Park Encampment in 2022
Halifax' Encampment Management Process
Halifax' Encampment Management Process
In response to the protests over police dismantling of the tent community at the Halifax Central Library in 2021, and the City decided to halt all encampment evictions, until a housing and encampment strategy could be devised.
On May 3, 2022, the Region considered a report on its approaches to homelessness and encampments. That report noted that as of April 19, 2022, there were approximately 200 shelter spaces in Halifax, and 547 people experiencing homelessness - a rate of only one shelter bed per 2.7 persons. Recognizing this, the Region proposed certain parks where designated sites for "outdoor sheltering", and provision of wraparound services, including portable toilets, water, and garbage collection, would be permitted. The sites are intended as a stop-gap measure until sufficient shelter spaces, including long term affordable housing, is built. Not all parks are designated to allow encampments.
Restrictions on Designated Sites
Tent villages within the designated camping sites are limited to four tents per site. The sites were chosen to ensure they were not:
within 50 metres of a school, daycare, or adult care facility;
on active sports fields, dugouts, or bleachers;
within horticultural displays or gardens;
within cemeteries;
near environmentally or culturally sensitive areas;
blocking a path or right of access;
on bridges, docks, or piers;
near playgrounds, pools, or splash pads;
near skateboard parks or sports courts;
near picnic shelters, gazebos;
near recreation facilities; or
in highly inaccessible spaces for individuals, services, and support providers.
In addition to these criteria, staff were to consider the following, among other relevant considerations, when evaluating a proposed location:
proximity or availability of public washrooms, park washrooms, or another toilet options;
proximity to a potable water source for drinking and handwashing;
proximity to public transit;
proximity to services and supports residents need;
site safety;
site privacy;
site maintenance services (including vehicular access and garbage removal);
potential of damage to the site;
risk of conflict with other users of space and the resident.
In June 2022, the Region designated four parks where encampments were permitted.
In October 2023, the Region designated an additional seven parks where encampments were permitted, while adding "occupancy limits" to each park.
On February 26, 2024, the Region "de-designated" seven of its parks because of a new shelter it had built. That shelter, the Halifax Forum, has very little privacy, prevents couples from sheltering together, and has been cited by some unhoused persons as lacking community. In March 2024, a series of micro-shelters, named "Pallet Village" also opened.
In July 2024, in response to growing number of unhoused persons and overcrowding at its designated sites, the Region published a report that again considering expanding the number of park spaces where encampments are allowed. The Regional Council ultimately approved 9 additional parks where encampments could be permitted.
On September 24, 2024, the Region "de-designated" another location where encampments had been permitted, along University Avenue.
The Region continues to build shelter spaces, and additional micro-shelters opened in January 2025. As of March 14th, the Region notes that 30 tents and five trailers were located in the designated encampment locations.
On August 20, 2025, the Region de-designated Cogswell Park where encampments had been allowed since July 2024. The de-designation was due to to the opening of a new adult care facility less than 50 metres from the park, meaning so the site no longer complies with the Region's above-noted encampment policies.
Halifax' Eviction Process
Halifax' Eviction Process
Not all parks are designated for shelter. Where tents or other shelters have been set up on municipal land that is not designated for that purpose the municipality will take steps to remove the structure. The following process takes place:
Councilors or residents who see a new tent or shelter on municipal land will be encouraged to call 311.
Navigators or a service provider (through the province of Nova Scotia) will be connected to the shelter or tent occupant
If a tent or shelter can be confirmed as unoccupied by navigators or service providers, staff will arrange its removal of the tent/shelter. Whenever possible, people’s belongings will be held for a period of time. Shelter materials will not be held.
If occupied, the first approach will be to work with individuals, gathering information about them, gauging interest in and ability to be connected to housing or shelter options, and sharing this information, consistent with privacy requirements, among HRM, the Province and other service providers, to attempt to identify options for suitable housing.
If the occupant of a tent, shelter or other structure is in an area not designated for sheltering, individuals may be required to move to a designated space while housing is sought. In these situations:
Though navigators and/or service providers the municipality will continue to work with the person experiencing homelessness (if willing) to attempt to find alternate shelter,
The municipality may provide support to individuals to move, such as boxes, bags, and transportation and temporary storage of personal items.
If the occupant of a tent, shelter or other structure in an area not designated for shelter refuses to move and the occupant has been offered a suitable housing alternative or space in a designated area, the municipality may take enforcement actions.
It is intended that an enforcement approach would not be considered until all others have been exhausted. Support services (e.g. transportation) would still be offered in these instances, where possible. Enforcement related to non-compliance will take the following approach:
Compliance officers approach the residents and identify themselves to them, seek to understand the situation from that person’s perspective and highlight concerns regarding non-compliance from a municipal perspective;
If helpful in the circumstances, the compliance officer can help connect the person with other resources, likely through referral to a Street Navigator or outreach worker.
Ask the person to take action to align with municipal requirements.
Return to the site, on a timeline appropriate to the resident to follow up; and
Should the non-compliant behaviour persist, Halifax Regional Police may be engaged.
Various courses of action, depending on the issue, are shown below.
Areas where Encampments are Permitted
Areas where Encampments are Permitted
Mapped below are locations that the Region has designated where encampment are allowed, or may be allowed in future, and locations that were previously "de-designated". Of the parkland inside Halifax's urban area, less than 1% is designated for encampments.
Frequency of Encampment Evictions (January 1, 2020 - October 31, 2022)
Frequency of Encampment Evictions (January 1, 2020 - October 31, 2022)
Halifax - Encampment Notices Issued by Month.xlsxPage updated
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