Bail conditions in Ontario, explained

Draft — for review by a criminal defence lawyer licensed in Ontario · Updated 2026-09-10

A release order comes with rules.

The common ones

• Keep the peace and be of good behaviour. On every order. It means no new charges.
• Attend court. Every date, on time. Missing one can mean a warrant.
• No contact. With a named person — no calls, texts, social media, messages through friends. This is the one people break by accident.
• Stay away. From an address or a place.
• Live at. A fixed address, often the surety's.
• Curfew. Be inside between set hours. Police can check.
• No weapons. No alcohol or drugs. Common on impaired and domestic matters.
• Report to police. On a schedule, in some cases.

"Can the conditions be changed?"

Yes, but only by the court (a bail variation), usually with the Crown's agreement. Never by the surety, the family, or the person. Ask the lawyer's office before doing anything the order forbids — even something that seems harmless, like picking up clothes from home. [verify]

If a condition is broken

It is a new charge (failure to comply, Criminal Code s. 145). [verify section] The person can be arrested again and it becomes harder to get bail the next time. If the person is drifting toward breaking one, the family should call the office first.

What the surety should watch

The conditions the person is most likely to slip on: contact and curfew. Keep a copy of the order on your phone.

Not legal advice. Private retainer only. Legal Aid Ontario: 1-800-668-8258.