Summary of Provincial Park Offences
When visiting Ontario Parks, you must show respect and consideration for your fellow visitors and the park environment. The following table lists some of the common laws enforced in provincial parks. The Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006 and other legislation governing behaviour in provincial parks can be reviewed at provincial park offices and at: www.ontario.ca/laws. These laws are enforced by provincial park wardens who have all the power and authority of a member of the Ontario Provincial Police within a provincial park. Many of the listed offences could result in eviction from a provincial park. If evicted, you are prohibited from re-entering any provincial park for a period of 72 hours. Minimum fines listed below include court costs and the victim fine surcharge.
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
---|---|---|
Liquor and Cannabis |
If you are 19 years of age or older, you are permitted to possess or consume liquor (beer, wine, spirits) only on a registered campsite. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that liquor is properly stored while in a vehicle. Liquor must be in a container that is unopened and the seal unbroken or is packed away and not accessible to any person in the vehicle. No person under 19 years of age can possess or consume cannabis. Drivers are responsible for ensuring that cannabis is properly stored while in a vehicle or boat. Cannabis must be in its original packaging that has not been opened or cannabis must be packed in baggage that is fastened closed or is not otherwise readily available to any person in the vehicle or boat. |
|
- Having liquor in open container in unauthorized place | $125.00 | |
- Consuming liquor in unauthorized place | $125.00 | |
- Driving or having care or control of a motor vehicle with open or unsealed container of liquor | $215.00 | |
- Person under 19 years having liquor | $125.00 | |
- Being intoxicated in a public place | $65.00 | |
- Person under 19 years – possess cannabis | $125.00 | |
-Driving or having care or control of a vehicle or boat with cannabis in open original packaging, open baggage, or readily available | $215.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Rowdyism / Noise |
Provincial parks are established to provide a setting for peaceful and natural experiences. Rowdy behaviour, which includes excessive noise, or obscene language or gestures, is not permitted. You cannot disturb any other person or interfere with their enjoyment of the park at any time. |
|
- Use discriminatory, harassing, abusive or insulting language or gestures | $180.00 | |
- Make excessive noise | $180.00 | |
- Disturb other persons | $180.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Refuse |
Deposit all garbage and litter in the containers provided to discourage wildlife from becoming pests. Campsites and/or facilities must be kept clean at all times to eliminate potential hazards to parks visitors and minimize human-wildlife conflict. |
|
- Litter or cause litter | $155.00 | |
- Fail to keep facility clean | $155.00 | |
- Fail to restore facility to original condition | $155.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Vehicles |
Each vehicle in the park must have a valid provincial park permit. Motor vehicles may be operated on park roads only. Park roads are regulated by the Highway Traffic Act. All rules of the road apply inside the parks as they do outside. Bicycles are only allowed on park roads and on designated bike trails. Off-road vehicles are not permitted in provincial parks because of the environmental damage they may cause. |
|
- Unlawfully take motor vehicle into park or possess or operate it | $155.00 | |
- Operate vehicle off roadway | $155.00 | |
- Drive without seatbelt | $240.00 | |
- Drive while passenger under 16 fails to wear seatbelt | $240.00 (plus 2 demerit points) | |
- Speeding - more than 20 km/hr | $125.00 | |
- Disobey stop sign | $110.00 (plus 3 demerit points) | |
- Operate all-terrain vehicle | $155.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Parking |
All vehicles must park in a designated area and must have a valid park permit. Where a physical park permit is issued, it must be prominently displayed on your vehicle. |
|
- Park vehicle in area not designated | $30.00 | |
- Park vehicle in prohibited area | $30.00 | |
- Fail to display permit on parked vehicle | $30.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Pets |
For the protection of wildlife and other park visitors, your pet must be under control and on a leash not exceeding 2 metres at all times. You must ensure your pet does not damage or interfere with vegetation or wildlife. You must also ensure your pet does not interfere with others’ enjoyment of the park. Pets are not permitted in the swimming area, on the beach or in a posted prohibited area at any time. |
|
- Permit domestic animal to be without leash | $95.00 | |
- Permit domestic animal to make excessive noise | $95.00 | |
- Permit domestic animal to be in designated swimming area or on a beach | $95.00 | |
- Permit domestic animal to disturb people | $95.00 | |
- Permit domestic animal to harass or chase wildlife | $95.00 | |
- Permit domestic animal to be in a posted prohibited area | $95.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Environmental Protection |
All vegetation, wildlife and natural features are protected in provincial parks. To maintain the park as a natural setting, the removal of natural objects is prohibited. Cutting any live growth or damaging any natural or other object is prohibited. You may not take any fallen or dead wood from a provincial park for the purpose of a campfire or other such intent. |
|
- Damage / deface / remove Crown property | $155.00 | |
- Disturb / harm / remove natural object | $155.00 | |
- Disturb / cut / remove / harm plant or tree | $155.00 | |
- Kill plant or tree | $180.00 | |
- Disturb / kill / remove / harm / harass animal | $180.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Campfires |
Fireplaces are designated by park staff for safety reasons. Restricting fires to these locations greatly reduces the risk of forest fires. For the prevention of forest fires, a park superintendent may give notice of a fire hazard and implement a fire ban. At any time during a fire ban no person is permitted to have a fire unless otherwise stated by the park superintendent. |
|
- Start or tend fire other than in fireplace or designated place | $180.00 | |
- Start or tend fire where notice of fire hazard is posted | $180.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Fireworks |
Possession or use of fireworks is prohibited in provincial parks at all times. They constitute a fire hazard and disturb wildlife and visitors who wish to enjoy the park in a peaceful manner. |
|
- Possess fireworks | $120.00 | |
- Ignite fireworks | $180.00 | |
Offences | Minimum Fine | Explanation |
Hours of Closing |
Only registered campers are allowed in a provincial park during the posted hours of closing. |
|
- Enter park after closing | $155.00 | |
- Remain in park after closing | $155.00 |
Fines are subject to change. This is not a complete listing of offences; please refer to the specific legislation. The minimum fine amount includes the applicable set fine, plus $5.00 court costs, plus the applicable victim fine surcharge.