Report a church service, meeting, or demonstration in a public place

The Public Assemblies Act governs the exercise of three fundamental rights:

• freedom of religion and belief;
• the right to assemble; and
• the right to protest.

A protest is also often referred to as a demonstration. The term “public gathering” as used in the Public Gatherings Act is a general term.

Anyone may hold an event. However, the municipality must be notified in writing in advance: before the public announcement and at least 48 hours before the event begins. You can do this by filling out the online form below.

If the reporting deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the report must be received by 12:00 p.m. on the preceding business day at the latest.

What do I need to submit?

The form asks for the following information:

• the purpose of the event;
• the date on which the event will be held, as well as the start and end times;
• the location, and, if applicable, the route and the destination;
• to the extent applicable, the method of composition; and
• measures that the event organizer will take to ensure that the event proceeds smoothly.

Terms and Conditions

Conditions and restrictions may apply to the holding of a public event. In exceptional cases, a public event may be prohibited:

• if the report was filed too late;
• if the required information is not provided in a timely manner;
• to protect public health;
• in the interest of traffic;
• to prevent or suppress disturbances.

The content of a demonstration should never be the reason for a restriction or a ban.

Costs

There is no fee for registering an event.