Council changes Business Licence Bylaw regarding bear spray sales

City Council approved several significant changes to its Business Licence Bylaw regarding the sale of bear spray, aiming to reduce its misuse, particularly among youth. These changes affect all businesses that sell bear spray and will be enforced starting July 30, 2025.

Key changes to the bylaw include:

• Mandatory buyer registry:
  • Record buyer’s name, address, phone number, date of birth
  • Collect two pieces of ID (one with a photo)
  • Document product details (manufacturer, model, serial number, etc.)
  • Record date, time, and employee name who completed the sale
  • Keep records for at least two years
• Age restrictions:
  • Buyers and sellers must be 18 years or older
  • No sales to anyone who fails to properly identify themselves
• Storage and product requirements:
  • Bear spray must be stored out of public view
  • Only unmodified, clearly labeled products may be sold
• Enforcement:
  • Non-compliant businesses may face fines, suspension, or loss of licence

“Bear spray incidents in Saskatoon have more than doubled in recent years with youth-related offences increasing by over 500% since 2021.” says Mark Wilson, Licensing and Permitting Manager. “These changes are intended to reduce the availability of the product to minors, reduce the number of bear spray incidents and provide records that could assist in an investigation.”

The bylaw has been formally adopted as of July 30, 2025. Businesses known to the City of Saskatoon and Saskatoon Police Service to sell bear spray have been notified of the changes and their obligations under the bylaw. We would like to thank these businesses for their support, and for the voluntary efforts undertaken by large format sporting goods stores to check for identification prior to the bylaw coming into force.

For more information please visit saskatoon.ca/start-business