The City of Thunder Bay has adopted a Graffiti Management By-law to reduce the amount of graffiti found in the community. The Graffiti Guard initiative encourages everyone to prevent, report and remove graffiti in Thunder Bay. Call 211 or use the City's online form to Report Graffiti. You can also contact Municipal Enforcement Services at 807-577-MLEO (6536).

Prevent

There is no way to completely prevent property from becoming a target for graffiti, but removal helps discourage repeat events or the spread of graffiti. Download the brochure below for ideas that may help reduce the chance of your property being targeted.

Report

Call 211 or report graffiti online. The City of Thunder Bay will remove graffiti from City-owned and operated property. To help remove graffiti, the City will provide financial assistance on request to residents and small businesses with an assessment value less than $400,000. 211 is your community information and referral service, available 24 hours a day.

Remove

Studies have found that removal often prevents more graffiti from appearing. For public property, 211 will notify the appropriate agency and they will have the graffiti removed. For private property, owners will be notified under the Graffiti Management By-law and be asked to remove the graffiti with financial assistance available from the City. A rebate and subsidy are available to help with the cost of removal.

What is graffiti?
Graffti is defned as one or more letters, symbols, etchings, fgures, inscriptions or stains made or affxed to a property.
Whose responsibility is graffiti removal?
The by-law says no one is allowed to put graffti on property and property owners must remove graffti if they become a target. the city will provide fnancial assistance to residents and small businesses targeted by graffti. call 2 to fnd out more.
What else is the City doing?

After notifcation, the city will, whenever possible, remove graffti from city-owned or operated property within:

  • 48 hours for hate, racist, gang-related, obscene or offensive graffti
  • 7 days for large amounts of graffti on highly visible sites
  • 4 days for other types of graffti

The city will also work with community partners to encourage young people to put their creativity toward positive art projects.
Ideas to prevent graffiti
  • Graffti resistant materials
  • Improved lighting
  • Landscaping practices that contribute to safety and security
  • Security and surveillance systems and patrols
  • Passive surveillance through good design and materials, and incorporation of areas between private and public spaces
  • Strategically placed fences, art, signs and landscaping

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