The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) issued over $4,000 in fines to local businesses following an enforcement project aimed at reducing youth access to bear spray.

This comes after 2026 recorded an increase in incidents involving youth with bear spray, which include assaults, disturbances, and weapons seizures.

Between January 1 and August 15,  VPD recorded 104 incidents where youth were involved in a bear spray related incident. This compares to 83 recorded incidents during the same period in 2025.

 In response, The Youth Investigative Unit (YIU) detectives conducted inspections of businesses suspected of selling bear spray, coyote spray, and dog-repellent spray. Detectives visited 27 businesses across Vancouver to identify potential sources of bear spray and promote compliance with the City of Vancouver bylaws, which note that such spray is not to be sold to people under the age of 19 and that records of sale (including the identification of the buyer) be retained for 12 months.

 The inspections resulted in $4,000 in fines issued to three businesses for four by-law violations. All businesses visited also received information outlining by-law requirements and best practices for compliance.

 "Reducing youth access to bear spray is a priority," said Inspector Dave Ballance of the VPD’s Youth Services Section. "This enforcement initiative will contribute to the safety of the community, and we hope it will lead to a reduction of youth committing assaults with bear spray."

 The YIU will continue monitoring youth bear spray incidents, gathering intelligence on supply sources, and working with law enforcement partners across the Lower Mainland to support similar enforcement efforts where bear spray by-laws exist.