Vancouver Conversion Therapy Ban - City Law Overview

Civil Rights and Equity British Columbia 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia takes a public-health and human-rights approach to practices commonly called "conversion therapy." This article explains how local city policy, provincial and federal laws interact in Vancouver, who enforces prohibitions, how complaints are made, and what to expect if you or someone you know is affected. It summarizes available penalties, common violations, complaint routes to city offices and police/prosecutors, and practical next steps for reporting, seeking support, or pursuing review.

Scope and Legal Context

There is no separate, consolidated "conversion therapy bylaw" codified in Vancouver municipal bylaws as a standalone numeric bylaw on the city consolidated bylaws pages; enforcement principally relies on provincial and federal instruments and on city policy statements and complaint processes. Readers should note that federal Criminal Code provisions and provincial human rights frameworks may apply alongside municipal licensing, business regulation or bylaw enforcement where relevant. Statements below are current as of February 2026.

If you or someone is in immediate danger, call local emergency services.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of prohibitions against conversion therapy in Vancouver may involve multiple authorities depending on the facts: criminal prosecution under federal law, provincial human-rights complaints, and municipal compliance or licensing actions where a business or licensed practitioner is involved.

  • Fine amounts: not specified on the cited municipal pages; federal criminal penalties for conversion-therapy offences include custodial penalties under the Criminal Code (see federal statute). Current municipal monetary penalties for related licensing or bylaw breaches are not specified on a single city page.
  • Escalation: first, repeat, and continuing-offence treatment is not specified on a single Vancouver municipal page; criminal prosecutions follow federal sentencing rules and provincial human-rights remedies follow tribunal procedures.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: possible orders include cease-and-desist directives, licence suspensions or revocations (where licensing applies), human-rights tribunal orders, and criminal court penalties including custody in serious cases.
  • Enforcer and complaint pathways: municipal complaints about licensed businesses, practitioners, or public spaces are handled by City of Vancouver Bylaw Enforcement or Licensing departments; criminal matters are investigated by police and prosecuted by provincial or federal Crown counsel. Time limits for criminal charges follow the Criminal Code and for human-rights complaints follow the relevant tribunal rules; specific time limits are not specified on a single municipal page and should be verified with the enforcing agency.
  • Appeals and review: appeals of municipal administrative orders follow the city’s administrative review procedures where available; criminal convictions are appealable through the courts within statutory time frames; exact municipal appeal time limits are not specified on a single city page.
Municipal enforcement often complements, rather than duplicates, federal and provincial remedies.

Applications & Forms

There is no single, publicly posted city form specifically titled for reporting conversion-therapy practices on the City of Vancouver consolidated bylaws pages; complaints are typically submitted through general bylaw, licensing or public-safety complaint forms, or directly to police for criminal matters. For human-rights complaints, use the provincial human-rights tribunal form process. Specific form names and fee requirements are not specified on a single municipal page.

Common Violations and Typical Responses

  • Advertising or offering conversion therapy services in a commercial or online context - may trigger licensing, bylaw or criminal review.
  • Licensed health professionals administering practices contrary to professional standards - may prompt complaints to licensing colleges and city licensing bodies.
  • In-person programs targeting minors or vulnerable adults - likely to involve police and child-protection or adult-protection referrals.

Action Steps

  • Report urgent threats to 9-1-1.
  • File a municipal complaint with Bylaw Enforcement or Licensing if a business or public event is involved.
  • Contact police or Crown counsel for potential Criminal Code offences.
  • For professional misconduct, submit a complaint to the relevant British Columbia health or counselling regulator.
Document dates, locations and witnesses before filing a complaint to support enforcement or prosecution.

FAQ

Is conversion therapy illegal in Vancouver?
Practices commonly called conversion therapy may be prohibited under federal criminal law and addressed under provincial human-rights and municipal regulatory frameworks; there is no single Vancouver bylaw titled "conversion therapy ban" on the consolidated city bylaw pages as of February 2026.
Who enforces complaints about conversion therapy?
Enforcement may involve City of Vancouver Bylaw Enforcement or Licensing, police and Crown prosecutors for criminal matters, and provincial human-rights bodies for discrimination claims.
Where do I report a licensed practitioner?
Report licensed practitioners to their professional regulatory college and to municipal licensing or bylaw authorities if the conduct involves a licensed business or public safety concern.

How-To

  1. Collect evidence: dates, times, communications, advertising, and witness names.
  2. Contact emergency services if there is immediate risk.
  3. File a municipal complaint with Bylaw Enforcement or Licensing and keep a copy of your submission.
  4. If you suspect a criminal offence, file a police report so investigators can assess for Criminal Code charges.
  5. For professional misconduct, submit a complaint to the relevant regulatory college for that profession.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal criminal law and provincial human-rights mechanisms are central to prohibiting conversion therapy practices affecting Vancouver residents.
  • Municipal complaint routes exist for businesses and licensed practitioners, but there is no single Vancouver bylaw number dedicated solely to conversion therapy on the consolidated bylaw pages as of February 2026.

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