BARS RESTAURANTS & NIGHTCLUBSgood neighbour policy for
CITY OF TORONTO
1. Display prominent notices at main entrances and exits advising patrons to leave in a quiet, peaceful,and respectful manner and to avoid making disruptive noise, littering, and public urination. Employees can also remind patrons exiting the establishment to be respectful and quiet.
2. Noise from establishments with outdoor premises that serve alcohol should not disturb neighbouringresidents. Ensure that any sound is not audible beyond a reasonable distance from the lot lineafter 11 p.m.
3. Consider providing adequate mechanical ventilation within the building so that open doors and/orwindows are not required, and noise is contained within.
4. Keep the exterior of your establishment clean. Use best efforts to ensure that all areas immediatelyadjacent to your premises, but particularly locations that abut residential areas, are clean and freeof litter.
5. Use best efforts to arrange garbage collection and recycling pick-up at times that are not disruptiveto near-by residents.
6. Smoking is not permitted within nine-metres of an entrance or exit. Post “No Smoking” signs atentrances and exits to smoke-free areas, and take reasonable measures to ensure that smoking lawsare respected.
7. When feasible, provide smokeless ashtrays a minimum distance of nine-metres from any entrance orexit. Ensure that these ashtrays are clean and emptied as needed.
8. Make washrooms available to patrons, including prospective patrons if they have been lined upoutside for a lengthy period of time.
9. Inform employees about local transit options, including for-hire ground transportation, so that theycan provide this information to exiting patrons if required.
10. All nightclubs require a noise and crowd control plan; a metal detector; and must be staffed with atleast one security guard for every 100 patrons in attendance. Nightclub operators are required tomonitor line-ups outside, and ensure the orderly conduct of patrons in the line-up.
11. Consider providing outside lighting to discourage nuisance activities along the street, sidewalk, arear laneway, or adjacent parking as appropriate, while also ensuring that light “trespass” from thesedevices does not interfere with liveability.
12. Provide employees with skills, through training programs or other means, to promote responsibleservice, responsible consumption of alcohol, and the management of aggressive customers. Anexample is the Best Bar None Program.
13. Provide the cell phone number of a manager to allow police, emergency personal, or neighboursto contact them to request noise volumes be adjusted, or to respond after-hours in the case ofan indecent.
By posting this policy, the operator is making a commitment to be a good neighbour by providing a safe, clean, quiet environment in the vicinity of their establishment.
Toronto’s bar, restaurant and nightlife industry is a vital economic driver, and an important element of our cultural and social fabric. However, in a rapidly growing city, it is essential that this industry operates in harmony with its neighbours, particularly residential neighbours. The Good Neighbour Policy is a tool to assist operators of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in understanding the measures they can take to being a good neighbour, by reducing local nuisance impacts upon local residents:
DRAFT
LL1.1.1
