Graffiti
Spruce Grove is an attractive and welcoming community, and to help keep it that way the City of Spruce Grove has taken steps to minimize graffiti on local properties. New regulations that prohibit graffiti within City limits were introduced in the Community Standards Bylaw, passed by Council on May 27, 2024. These regulations went into effect on July 1, 2024.
Property owner responsibilities
As a property owner, you are responsible for removing graffiti on your property. If you receive a Notice to Remove graffiti from a Peace Officer, it must be addressed within the specified time period.
Graffiti abatement program
The City offers assistance with graffiti removal for residential property owners, churches and non-profit organizations. If you qualify, the City will cover the cost of graffiti removal on your property. To inquire about this service, please contact Enforcement Services at 780-962-7586. Please note that this program is not available for businesses, commercial property owners, apartments or condo buildings.
Reporting graffiti
Report graffiti by calling the complaint line at 780-962-7586 or report it through the online complaint portal.
Frequently asked questions
The Community Standards Bylaw defines graffiti as, "Words, letters, symbols, marks, figures, drawings, inscriptions, writing, or stickers that are applied, etched, sprayed, painted, drawn, stained, scribbled, or scratched on a surface without the consent of the property owner, or which are detrimental to the use and enjoyment of the surrounding area." Find the full definition in the Community Standards Bylaw.
Graffiti is an issue because it is a form of vandalism, which is illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada. Graffiti also defaces buildings, public spaces, and other properties, causing costly clean-up and repairs. The presence of graffiti can contribute to a perception of increased crime or disorder in a neighbourhood, making the area appear unsafe or neglected.
Call the Parkland RCMP non-emergency line at 825-220-7267.
Yes. If graffiti is not removed from a property within the time period specified on the Notice to Remove, you may be fined $500 for the first offence, $1,000 for the second offence within 12 months, and $2,000 for the third and subsequent offence within 12 months.
Here are some tips from Enforcement Services on how to prevent graffiti on your property:
- Get to know your neighbours and keep an eye on each other’s properties.
- Ensure there is adequate lighting on your property, which could include motion-activated lighting.
- Trim vegetation (trees and hedges) on your property to ensure clear visibility from the front street or rear alley to your property.
- Install security cameras.