ANIMAL PROTECTION ZONE signs

An animal protection zone sign is an orange sign which serves as a warning to any person that the marked area is an animal protection zone, and that entering is prohibited under the Act, unless the person:

• Has prior consent of the owner or occupier of the farm, animal processing facility or prescribed premises to enter the animal protection zone, or
• Is a person authorized to carry out a duty under or exercise a power under any Act of Ontario or of Canada, including the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019,
• Is a person lawfully exercising an existing Aboriginal or Treaty Right, or
• Is any other person exempted under the Act.

Barns containing farm animals?

• NO SIGN NEEDED – Category A animal protection zone.

Fenced Pasture?

• NO SIGN NEEDED – Category A

Fall fairs?

• If animals are in a pen, show ring/area, or unloading area: NO SIGN NEEDED – Category C animal protection zone.

Areas at which farm animals lawfully compete against one another?

• If animals are in a pen, show ring/area, or unloading area: NO SIGN NEEDED – Category C

An area where farm animals are ordinarily bought or sold, licensed under the Livestock Community Sales Act?

• If animals are in a pen, show ring/area, or unloading area: NO SIGN NEEDED – Category C

Areas where farm animals are displayed for public viewing?

• If animals are in a pen, show ring/area, or unloading area: NO SIGN NEEDED – Category C

Community Pasture?

• If there is an enclosure containing the animals: NO SIGN NEEDED  – Category A
• If no enclosure (i.e. using guardian animals to contain flock): YES SIGN REQUIRED – Category B animal protection zone.

Category A: No sign required

• Barns
• Enclosed pastures
• Pens near barns

Category B: Sign is required

• Community pastures with no enclosure for farm animals
• Raceway

Category C: No sign required

• Livestock loading zones
• Rings where farm animals are being displayed or shown
• Pens in auction houses
• Rings at sales yards

Signage is only required for Category B animal protection zones. Category A and Category C Animal Protection Zones do not require signage to be protected under the Act.

If signs are used on Category A or C animal protection zones, it is advised to follow the same requirements outlined in the next sections.

If the area meets the requirements, it is eligible to be marked as a Category B animal protection zone. the owner or occupier must mark the area in accordance with the following requirements:

• Area: The boundaries of the animal protection zone are clearly marked or outlined,
• Colour: An orange sign, located at each ordinary access point to the area,
• Size: The sign must be large enough to include a circle of 30 cm in diameter within it,
• Language: Wording must clearly state that it is an Animal Protection Zone, and
• Visibility: The sign and any markings must be clearly visible in daylight.

Category B areas will be deemed animal protection zones only when farm animals are present. Otherwise, the Trespass to Property Act applies.

As every farm, animal processing facility, and prescribed premises are unique, legislation cannot list every potential area on a property which could be considered an animal protection zone. The regulations allow an owner or occupier to create a Category B zone on their property, subject to conditions outlined in the regulations. 

To designate an area as Category B, the area must meet the following requirements:

• It does not include the entire property,
• It can only include lands on which farm animals are reasonably likely to be kept or located,
• It is located within the legal boundaries of the property, and
• It does not impede access to the front door of any residence found on the property.