City of Waterloo updates nuisance party bylaw weeks before St. Patrick’s Day

Just ahead of St. Patrick’s day, the City of Waterloo took a look at their nuisance party rules.

The City of Waterloo has added changes to how police and bylaw officers can respond to disruptive parties ahead of St. Patrick’s Day.

The city said the changes that were approved on Monday offer a more proactive approach to prevent large gatherings.

The bylaw addresses blocking roads and pedestrian gatherings at street parties such as the unsanctioned events that happen around St. Patrick’s Day weekend and university homecoming celebrations.

According to a staff report, the nuisance party provision was an amendment in 2023 and has been helpful in managing gatherings at private residences that encroach on sidewalks and streets.

“However, during ongoing operations, staff have observed that obstruction can also occur when individuals intentionally block sidewalks or remain on roadways to force a street closure,” the staff report said.

The two stand-alone provisions to the nuisance bylaw include:

• Prohibit obstructing highways and pedestrian areas when a nuisance is being created

• Require individuals to leave the highway when directed by enforcement or police for public safety reasons

City staff said the amendments will provide clarity for the police and bylaw officers as well as people taking part in the events.

“They also add explicit requirements for individuals to comply with a lawful direction of a municipal law enforcement officer or a police officer to leave a closed highway.”

The staff report noted that this behaviour was already prohibited as part of a nuisance party, but the stand-alone provision staff recommended helps to clarify existing authority and align with other municipalities.

“This behaviour could be addressed under our current nuisance party regulations but requires enforcement officers to wait until a large gathering has formed. The proposed update will allow staff to take a more proactive, consistent and clear response in preventing a large gathering,” staff said.

In 2025, around 20,000 revellers gathered for an unsanctioned street party on St. Patrick’s Day in Waterloo, despite a court injunction that gave officers the power to arrest and criminally charge anyone deemed to be a nuisance.

In total, police said they laid 254 charges over the course of the weekend and 17 arrests were made.