Roadside Memorials

Roadside memorials can cause unintended safety risks, such as creating distractions for drivers or obstructive clutter on road and pedestrian spaces.

In general, roadside memorials contravene the Traffic Bylaw 5590, which prohibits installing anything on traffic control devices. Removal of the roadside memorials will not be proactively enforced, but may occur if particular roadside memorials pose a safety risk to drivers and/or pedestrians. For this reason, the City encourages people to seek out other ways to honour their loved ones, such as the commemorative programs offered by the City.

The City receives requests for the removal of roadside memorials from people not directly impacted by the loss. Removing a memorial upon request requires safety considerations, time, equipment and labour from City crews.

Roadside memorials involving boulevard trees often use metal fasteners, which impact the tree's health. 
 

Traffic fatality signs follow best practices for signs and can be installed safely and quickly by trained employees.

While the City makes every effort to provide 10 days of notice before removal, the City does have jurisdiction to remove roadside memorials that pose traffic safety risks.

The City offers alternative ways for family and friends to honour a loved one. Items recovered are stored for 30 days before they are disposed of, if not claimed.

Please contact 311 for instructions on how to claim items when a roadside memorial is removed.
 

These can be reported through the 311 app, using the category related to the structure the roadside memorial is near or attached to, for example, if attached to a tree, use the category Tree/Branch Damage - Public Property; if attached to a traffic sign, use the category Street/Traffic Lights and Signs. Mention in the description when filling out the app’s form that it is a roadside memorial.