Graffiti Prevention and Removal

Graffiti is drawing or writing on walls, benches, signs and other surfaces, often in public view. It is done without permission and can be simple words and pictures or elaborate creations.

We actively and cooperatively manage graffiti vandalism in public spaces while supporting murals and street art that adds artistic energy to Kingston.

Reporting graffiti

Don’t ignore it, report it! If graffiti of an offensive or targeted nature is seen on public property, it is important to report it to Kingston Police in addition to the City. Police will investigate the graffiti and the City will remove it.

  • Any property (public or private): Report to Kingston Police at 613-549-4660 or through the Kingston Police website before starting removal.
  • City property: Also submit a service request using the button "Report Graffiti on City Property".
  • Private property: Also notify the property owner and submit a service request using the button "Report Graffiti on Private Property"

On private or non-City properties

Private properties, businesses, companies, organizations and government agencies are responsible for their own maintenance, including graffiti removal. 

If graffiti is found on your property:

  • Remove the graffiti promptly. The longer graffiti is up, the more likely additional graffiti will occur.
  • If graffiti re-appears, continue removing it to reinforce the message that it is not welcome.
  • If you are unable to remove it yourself, contact a professional graffiti remover.
  • If the graffiti is not on your property, do not remove it yourself. Record and report graffiti you see on public property, schools, parks, a neighbour’s house, etc. to the appropriate person. 

If graffiti has not been addressed within a reasonable amount of time by the property owner, select Report Graffiti on Private Property to submit a service request.

Report Graffiti on Private Property

On City property

For graffiti on City-owned properties or surfaces other than the Street Art Wall, submit a service request and bylaw officers will investigate. This includes places like City buildings, parking garages, benches and play structures, Transit buses or shelters, bridges, sidewalks, roads, utility boxes, lampposts, and more.   

Report Graffiti on City property

Street art vs graffiti

Street art is an urban style of temporary public art that is installed in a sanctioned location. It is distinct from graffiti, which is not sanctioned or permitted and is a form of vandalism. 

The Street Art Wall by Doug Fluhrer Park is the only legal spot in Kingston for street art and murals. A legal wall, also called a "free space," is where street art, graffiti and murals are allowed and even encouraged. The wall is open to all artists, no matter their skill level. Be sure to review the guidelines before heading out to the park.

The following content is strictly prohibited, including any imagery and/or text that: 

  • Is gang or crime-related
  • Incites hatred or violence against any person or identifiable group
  • Promotes stereotypes or negative attitudes based on a ground protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code
  • Contains profane, vulgar, or offensive language
  • Depicts violence or explicit sexual content 

If a member of the public sees prohibited content on the Street Art Wall, please call Cultural Services at 613-546-4291 ext. 1158. We will remove content if it appears where painting is not allowed by the City. 

For more information about public art in Kingston, visit the Public Art page or email us at publicart@cityofkingston.ca. 

Types of graffiti

  • Hate graffiti: motivated by hate, bias or prejudice based on race, nationality, ethnic origin, gender, age, religion, language, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or other factor.
  • Offensive graffiti:obscene or offensive in nature such as, but not limited to, swear words and sexual drawing, but is not hate-based.
  • Vandalism graffiti: includes writing, painting or etching a symbol or “tag” that may or may not contain letters, and is not considered hate-based or offensive graffiti, made without permission or consent from the property owner.

Frequently asked questions

The condition of public spaces is a direct reflection of its residents' commitment to the care and upkeep of their community. Kingston’s attractiveness as a place to live, visit and conduct business decreases as graffiti and other destructive acts increase.

Graffiti also hurts individuals and identifiable groups when it contains discriminatory or hateful messages, or messages that are profane and offensive.

Kingston artists of all abilities are able to express themselves in a legal way at the Street Art Wall, located by Doug Fluhrer Park. Street art and murals are encouraged on that space.

Street art is an urban style of temporary public art that is sanctioned and permitted. It is distinct from graffiti, which is not sanctioned or permitted and is a form of vandalism.

A variety of methods can be used to remove graffiti, ranging from household cleaners to specialized removal products. To determine the best approach, consider the type of graffiti and the surface it’s on.

Always wear appropriate protective equipment. It may take multiple applications or methods to remove graffiti. You may want to consider hiring a professional graffiti removal service for intricate, excessive or stubborn graffiti.

Removal products work best on newly placed graffiti. All graffiti must be temporarily blocked from public view until total removal is possible.

Removal suggestions:

  • Paint over
    • Most effective and relatively inexpensive method of graffiti removal
    • Apply a primer first to prevent graffiti from showing through
    • Use two coats of latex paint and apply in uniform block patches
  • Remover
    • Graffiti/paint remover is available at paint stores. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and do a test patch first

You can also review our Graffiti removal and maintenance guide.

Graffiti is typically found on public or private property adjacent to public spaces, particularly if the area or object has one or more of the following characteristics:

  • Easy to reach; e.g. signs
  • Highly visible; e.g. building walls and highway overpasses
  • Locations where a wall or fence is the primary security and where there are few windows or people
  • Locations where oversight is cyclical during the day or week, or where people are intimidated by graffiti offenders
  • Mobile targets that generate wide exposure for the graffiti; e.g. trains or buses.

 In addition, two types of surfaces attract graffiti:

  • Light-colored surfaces. Dark surfaces do not generally attract as much graffiti but can be marred with light-colored paint.
  • Large and plain surfaces. Surfaces without windows or doors may be appealing for largescale graffiti. Smooth surfaces in particular attract offenders who use felt-tip markers.

Graffiti attracts further vandalism as well as other crimes. Graffiti should always be removed within 24 to 72 hours of its appearance, after recording and reporting it. If graffiti is left up longer, the location can attract additional attention from other vandals.

The Property Standards Bylaw​ is a tool for the City to compel property owners to remove graffiti within a reasonable amount of time. If graffiti is left on a property, vandals may target surrounding buildings.

If you don’t want to remove the graffiti yourself, or aren’t able to do it yourself, there are professionals available that provide graffiti removal services.

We take several steps to help with the removal of graffiti including:

  • Attempting to remove the graffiti within 24 hours of notification.
  • Applying special anti-graffiti coatings that allow paint to be removed easily.
  • Painting over the graffiti using paint of the same color.
  • Washing (and pressure washing) target areas on a regularly scheduled basis. 
  • Using graffiti films that can be peeled off if tagged with graffiti.

We have also taken graffiti prevention measures:

  • Improving lighting around facilities and assets
  • Placing physical assets prone to tagging into more visible areas and activating the space to attract people
  • Installing security cameras
  • Conducting regular inspections
  • Having a presence in targeted areas
  • Utilizing assets that do not have clean open spaces (e.g. garbage receptacles with slats and playground equipment with slats and holes)
  • Wrapping or placing busy graphics or writing on assets to prevent open plain surfaces (e.g. wrapping planter boxes in patterned vinyl and putting posters on recycling depots.) 
  • Planting shrubs and trees in front of open wall spaces. (e.g. electrical distribution substations)

Community art initiatives
We run public art programs that give residents legal ways to create art in public and private spaces—such as the Street Art Legal Wall in Douglas Fluhrer Park. This sanctioned area encourages graffiti-style art, community art projects, and murals, including works commissioned from local artists for public property.

Murals can have many benefits including making a neighbourhood more welcoming, encouraging community participation and reflecting a community’s history and creating a strong sense of place.

A mural is a painting or artwork applied directly on a wall as a form of decoration or artistic expression. We simplified the application process for artists, property owners, business owners and community groups to support the creation of murals as public art. 

Contact

Bylaw Enforcement
bylawenforcement
@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000

Contact

Kingston Police
Phone: 613-549-4660

The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.

Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.

Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.

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