Ottawa Graffiti Removal Program

The City is holding an information session on the morning of March 29th to discuss the 2008 graffiti bylaw (and graffiti removal strategy), with homeowners and business owners. The new bylaw requires all property owners to maintain graffiti-free properties. Since part of the strategy is to remove graffiti as quickly as possible, property owners will be obligated to remove graffiti within certain timelines. If an owner fails to remove graffiti after receiving an initial notice, the City has the power to remove the graffiti, charge the costs of the graffiti removal to the property owner, and add the costs to the tax roll, if necessary. Enforcement of the new graffiti bylaw begins in April. As I have heard anecdotally that graffiti removal is quite costly, it will be interesting to see the reaction by local business owners.

You can register for the upcoming Graffiti Symposium on March 29th through the City’s website at http://www.ottawa.ca/.