Graffiti & Postering

The City of Toronto’s Graffiti Management Plan is a proactive and cooperative approach to managing graffiti vandalism in the public realm while supporting street art in approved areas that adds artistic vibrancy to our city.

How the City manages graffiti and postering:

  • Providing by-law enforcement for illegal graffiti
  • Cleaning up graffiti in parks and public property
  • Supporting murals and street art by funding legal graffiti and street art-murals is designated areas

Find out how to report graffiti vandalism or illegal postering in your neighbourhood.

Situation What to Do
Graffiti on City roads, sidewalks or bridges Report online or contact 311
Graffiti in a City park Report online or contact 311
Graffiti on private property Property owners are responsible for removing graffiti. If graffiti has not been addressed within a reasonable amount of time by the property owner, report online or contact 311.
Hate or gang‑related graffiti Report online to Toronto Police Service or contact 416‑808‑2222
Graffiti in progress Call 911

Even though you did not place the graffiti on your property, it is the responsibility of the property owner to remove it (or have it removed by a contractor).

Timelines

  • Graffiti must be removed within 72 hours.
  • Hate or gang-related graffiti must be removed within 24 hours.

Preventing Graffiti Vandalism

  • Install or improve lighting and security cameras.
  • Limit access with fences or locked storage.
  • Plant climbing vines or thorny shrubs against large blank walls.
  • Use dark paint colours or apply an anti‑graffiti coating.
  • Consider commissioning a legal mural to help prevent future tagging. Funding may be available through StreetARToronto.

Not all graffiti is vandalism. Through StreetARToronto, murals and street art are part of the City’s comprehensive Graffiti Management Plan to make our streets more beautiful, showcase local artists, mentor emerging talent, and reduce vandalism.

You can also find where in the City has been designated as approved graffiti art zones.

Applying for an Exemption

If graffiti art or an art mural on your property has been mistaken for vandalism and you have been issued a Notice of Violation for graffiti, you can apply for a Graffiti Art/Mural exemption. Please send an email to GraffitiExemption@toronto.ca, providing the following details:

  • Exact address and location (e.g. garage, fence etc.) of art mural or graffiti art
  • Acknowledgement that the art mural or graffiti art was created with the permission of the property owner
  • A statement explaining why the art mural or graffiti art aesthetically enhances the surface it covers
  • A statement explaining how or why the art mural or graffiti art has regard to community character and standards
  • One or more photos that accurately portray all aspects of the art mural or graffiti art
  • If applicable, artist/company name commissioned to complete the art mural or graffiti art

Postering structures provide space for members of the public to post and share information with the community.Postering structures provide space for residents to post and share community information. The City monitors and enforces rules around postering in public spaces.

  • Only place posters on permitted city kiosks and message boards.
  • Community notices (lost pet, yard sale, cultural or religious events) may be placed on utility poles.
  • Do not poster on traffic poles, transit shelters or other public structures.