12 cleared out, 72 inspected and 117 signs up for city encampment rule enforcement

The City of Winnipeg has released early enforcement numbers after new homeless encampment rules took effect.

A report shared in city council meeting on Friday gives a peek of the City of Winnipeg’s new homeless encampment rule enforcement numbers.

The new rules, prohibiting encampments near playgrounds, schools, transit shelters, bridges and rail crossings, went into effect on Nov. 17, 2025.

On Friday, a verbal report was shared with council’s community services committee by Greg MacPherson, city’s manager of community development.

“So far … we’ve actioned 12 public properties,” said MacPherson.

Properties were flagged through “a variety of means,” such as 311, the Winnipeg Police Service and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service. Priorities were assigned by “(working) through (the city’s) encampment coordination table.”

Initially, outreach providers were sent to contact the occupants before city staff, such as bylaw enforcement officers or others, were sent.

“In some instances, we’ve placed signage notification, letting the people on site know that they’re in violation of one of our bylaws,” MacPherson said. “And then if necessary, we’ve had our outreach team to attend again to provide offers of housing.”

Once the site was confirmed to be vacated, the city “remediated” the site through contractors.

In terms of garbage removal, 30 sites were “remediated” by the city since Nov. 17 – removing “substantial amount of debris.

“In some instances, the sites will be relatively small so we’ll take an hour. But in some cases, it’s several days worth of debris to remove.”

MacPherson said so far bylaw enforcement officers put 117 signs up, replaced 11 signs and 72 onsite inspections were performed.

Three enforcement officers are working on enforcing the rule, he added.

- With files from CTV’s Daniel Halmarson