Public Places Bylaw

October update:

A Deliberations Panel meeting was held on 15 October and their recommendations will be presented to the Full Council for consideration and adoption on 28 November 2024.

What are we proposing in our Draft Public Place Bylaw?

We want to ensure Tasman District’s public spaces are safe and enjoyable for all residents with our Public Places Bylaw. Key issues include enhancing public health and safety, minimising nuisances, and regulating trading activities. For some areas, we are aiming to streamline processes by moving away from permits and licenses and instead setting out conditions for each activity.

Scroll through the images below to find out what is being proposed for each section of the bylaw.

Trading in Parks and Reserves

Unless written permission has been granted by the Council, trading in all parks and reserves is prohibited.

This is to retain the special character they have as commercial free zones. Council can make exceptions to this for special events.

Mobile trading

The draft bylaw proposes that the mobile trading is a permitted activity that doesn't require a licence or permit. Instead, mobile traders must follow the requirements set out in the bylaw about where they can operate, for how long and other conditions.

The draft bylaw also has provision for fining mobile traders who do not comply with the conditions set out.

Street Fundraising

Not-for-profit organisations can carry out street fundraising without written permission from Council, provided they meet the conditions set out in the bylaw. These include criteria such as ensuring pedestrian access is unobstructed, not operating after 6pm and not causing unreasonable annoyance / harassment to the public.

Busking

The draft bylaw proposes that busking is a permitted activity which doesn't require a permit or licence.

Instead, the regulations buskers must comply with are included in the bylaw. These include conditions such as allowing unobstructed passage for pedestrians, and changing location after two hours.

Retail displays on footpaths

The proposed bylaw does not require a licence or permit to have a free standing advertising sign (commonly known as a sandwich board).

Instead, the regulations are included in the bylaw. These include requirements such as only having one sign per business, placing the sandwich board on the roadside edge of the footpath, and allowing 2 metres of clear footpath after the sign has been placed for pedestrian access. The draft bylaw includes regulation on sizing for signs and does not permit flags.

If the footpath is not wide enough to accommodate 2 metres of clear footpath for pedestrians, the sandwich board would not be permitted under the draft bylaw.

We received feedback from disability and low vision advocates around the hazard the signage and flags can pose, particularly when used without a consistent approach. For this reason we also considered whether sandwich boards should be prohibited.

Another option considered was to have different rules for different parts of the district so that sandwich boards could still be used on narrower footpaths in townships such as Tākaka.

You can have your say on which of these options you prefer when you make a submission on the draft public places bylaw.

The draft bylaw also has provision for fining retailers who do not comply with the regulations set out.

Outdoor Dining

The proposed bylaw requires a licence to occupy when a food business wishes to use public pavements for outdoor dining. This licence reserves the space for the exclusive use of the business for outdoor dining purposes and contributes to the general upkeep of the pavement.

Council may offer a smoke/vape free discount on the licence to occupy fee for businesses who voluntarily maintain their outdoor dining areas as smoke and vape-free zones.