- Safe Access to Social Infrastructure in Toronto
Toronto’s new Safe Access to Social Infrastructure Bylaw is now in effect as of July 2, 2025, creating vital protections for community spaces like places of worship, childcare centres, and schools.
This bylaw establishes “Access Areas” — protective zones extending 50 metres around eligible facilities — to ensure people can safely and freely access important community services without harassment, intimidation, or interference.
Hear from Councillor Bradford in his video address to encourage more municipalities and the province to join in taking action.
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Safe Access to Social Infrastructure:
The City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 743, Streets and Sidewalks, Use of, Article XII allows for the establishment of access areas around select social infrastructure. Social infrastructure for this purpose is defined as childcare centres, elementary, middle or high schools, and places of worship.
The goal is to ensure that people can safely and freely access these important community services without interference or intimidation.
Under the bylaw, social infrastructure includes:
- Childcare centres
- Elementary, middle, or high schools
- Places of worship
An Access Area of 50 metres from the boundaries of a social infrastructure will be established.
Only an owner or operator of social infrastructure may request an Access Area through the online form.
Operator:
A person who owns or controls the location/entity.
Owner:
The registered owner of the property where the social infrastructure is located.
To request consideration for an Access Area, complete the online form and attestation.
Once your request is submitted you will receive an e-mail confirmation of receipt. Once your request has been reviewed by City staff, you will be contacted directly.
www.BubbleZones.ca/Toronto
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Preview the City of Toronto's application form
How will this Bubble Zone protection work?
Covers all City of Toronto property within 50 metres from the boundaries of an approved facility’s property.
Prohibits specific harmful behaviours that block, discourage, or interfere with people trying to enter or use your services, including:
Harassment, intimidation, or threats
Persistently discouraging people from entering
Obstructing or interfering with access
Expressing hateful or discriminatory messages related to race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or other protected grounds
Is in effect one hour before your operating hours start and one hour after they end, and only applies while the facility is operating for its primary purpose (e.g. worship services, classes).
Does not ban peaceful protests, demonstrations, labour strikes, or information sharing, provided these do not cross into prohibited behaviour.
Prohibited Activities in Access Areas.
Once an Access Area is established, it will be in effect for a one-year term beginning on and including the date the City publishes notice of the Access Area on its website. Where an Access Area is in effect, certain activities are prohibited in the Access Area during certain times.
Times Access Area is in Effect
The times during which the activities listed in Chapter 743 are prohibited in an Access Area are:
- The time periods which commence one hour before the Operating Hours of the social infrastructure adjacent to the Access Area and end one hour after the Operating Hours of the Social Infrastructure adjacent to the Access Area
- The times when the Social Infrastructure adjacent to the Access Area is being used by the Owner for the primary purposes of its operation as a childcare centre, place of worship or elementary or high school, including where the childcare centre, place of worship or elementary or high school is co-located with other uses.
Note: Under Chapter 743, “Operating Hours” is defined as the hours posted by the owner for when the social infrastructure is open or used for public access.
Prohibited Activities
The following activities are prohibited in an Access Area during the times described above:
- Performing or attempting to perform an act of discouragement concerning a person’s attendance at, use of, or attempts to attend or use social infrastructure
- Persistently requesting that a person refrain from accessing social infrastructure
- Obstructing, hindering or interfering or attempt to obstruct, hinder or interfere with another person’s access of or attempt to access social infrastructure
- Expressing an objection or disapproval towards any person based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability or the receipt of public assistance by any means, including graphic, verbal or written means
