Common Council prepares to update city regulations regarding public behavior and the use of shared spaces. On February 9, 2026, the Council intends to consider the third reading of two specific bylaws designed to modernize how the City of Saint John manages public nuisances and sidewalk usage.
Streamlining City Rules
The proposed changes involve By-Law Number L.G.-24, respecting Nuisance, and By-Law Number L.G.-25, which amends the existing Sidewalk By-Law. According to the official public notice from the City of Saint John, these amendments align local regulations with best practices used by other municipalities.
City staff drafted these updates to establish clear, contemporary standards for specific behaviors that impact safety, accessibility, and the overall enjoyment of public spaces. The new Nuisance By-Law consolidates regulations previously scattered across multiple documents. By bringing these rules under one umbrella, the City aims to ensure consistency in language, administrative penalties, and fines.
Removing Redundancy
This consolidation requires administrative cleanup to avoid duplication. As the new Nuisance By-Law absorbs certain regulations, the City will amend the Use of Sidewalk By-Law and simultaneously repeal the existing Littering By-Law.
Jonathan Taylor, City Clerk, indicated in the notice that the bylaws will be read in summary at the meeting unless a member of the Council objects. This vote represents a final step in modernizing the legal framework governing public conduct in Saint John.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the new Nuisance By-Law?
The new bylaw consolidates various nuisance behaviors into a single document to ensure consistent enforcement, language, and penalties across the city.
Why is the Littering By-Law being repealed?
The regulations found in the Littering By-Law are being moved into the new consolidated Nuisance By-Law. Repealing the old law prevents duplication in the City’s legal code.
When will Council vote on these changes?
The Common Council intends to consider giving the third reading to these bylaws at its meeting on February 9, 2026.
Littering can be helped somewhat by the retun of public use garbage cans, which disappeared from streets and malls, etc, when the garbage/recycling changes were put in place