Peace Bond in Ontario: Section 810 Explained (2026)

Short answer: A peace bond in Ontario is a court order under section 810 of the Criminal Code that requires a person to keep the peace, be of good behaviour and follow conditions — such as no contact with a named person — for up to 12 months. It is not a conviction or a finding of guilt. It often resolves assault, threats or domestic charges, which the Crown withdraws once the bond is entered. Breaching it is a crime.

When the Crown offers a peace bond, the first reaction is usually relief, followed by questions. Do I have to admit anything? Will this show up on a background check? This guide explains what a section 810 peace bond is, how it is used in Ontario criminal courts in 2026, what it does and does not do to your record, and when it makes sense to accept one.

What is a peace bond?

A peace bond is a recognizance — a formal promise made to the court. Under section 810 of the Criminal Code, a person who fears on reasonable grounds that someone will injure them, their intimate partner or child, or damage their property can ask a justice to require that person to enter into a recognizance. The person bound by the order (the “defendant”) agrees to keep the peace and be of good behaviour and to follow any conditions the court sets, for a period of not more than 12 months.

Peace bonds reach the courts in two main ways:

• A private application. A person can go to a justice of the peace and swear an information asking for a peace bond, even where police have laid no charge. A hearing follows if the defendant does not consent.
• As a resolution to a criminal charge. This is far more common in practice. Where someone has been charged with an offence such as assault, uttering threats or criminal harassment, the Crown may agree to withdraw the charge if the accused enters into a peace bond.

The Criminal Code also contains specialized peace bonds (sections 810.01 to 810.2) aimed at situations like organized crime, terrorism and sexual offences against children. Those have different rules and can last longer. This article is about the ordinary section 810 bond.

How a peace bond resolves a criminal charge

A peace bond is one of the most common ways to resolve assault charges, threats and harassment charges and many domestic assault cases, particularly where the accused has no record and the allegations are at the less serious end. In a typical resolution:

1. defence counsel and the Crown agree on the terms of the bond and its length;
2. the accused appears before a judge or justice of the peace and acknowledges that the complainant has reasonable grounds to fear them — usually without admitting the facts of the allegation;
3. the accused signs the recognizance; and
4. the Crown withdraws the criminal charge.

The acknowledgement is not a guilty plea. There is no trial, no finding that the accused committed any offence and no sentence. For background on the other routes to a withdrawal, see our guide on how criminal charges get withdrawn in Ontario.

Typical peace bond conditions

Every peace bond includes the core obligation to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The court can add conditions it considers desirable to secure that, and the most common are:

• no direct or indirect contact with the complainant (including through social media or third parties) and sometimes their family members;
• staying a set distance away from the complainant’s home, workplace or school;
• not possessing any weapons, firearms, ammunition or explosives — the Criminal Code requires the court to consider a weapons prohibition and to impose one where it is desirable for safety; and
• in some cases, abstaining from alcohol or drugs, or attending counselling.

Exceptions can be negotiated, such as contact through a family lawyer or according to a family court order about children. Vague terms are where people get into trouble, so settle the details before you sign.

Is a peace bond a criminal record?

No. A peace bond is not a criminal conviction, and it involves no finding of guilt. The Ontario government’s own guidance says that a person who enters into a peace bond does not end up with a criminal conviction on their record. That is the key difference between a peace bond and a guilty plea, or even a discharge, which still follows a finding of guilt.

That said, “no criminal record” does not mean “no record of anything”:

• While it is in force, a peace bond is enforceable by police across Canada, so its existence and conditions are available to police.
• Police may keep local records of the arrest and the withdrawn charge. Fingerprints and photographs taken on arrest are not automatically destroyed; many police services will consider a destruction request once the charge is withdrawn and the bond has ended, but policies differ.
• Vulnerable sector checks, required for some jobs and volunteer roles, follow special disclosure rules, and non-conviction information can occasionally be released in limited circumstances.

Travel to the United States

A peace bond is not a conviction, but US border officers can ask about arrests and charges, not just convictions, and they make their own admissibility decisions. Anyone with a recent arrest — however it was resolved — should get advice before travelling and carry proof that the charge was withdrawn.

What happens if you breach a peace bond?

Failing or refusing to comply with a peace bond is a criminal offence under section 811 of the Criminal Code. It is a hybrid offence: if the Crown proceeds by indictment, the maximum is four years in prison. A breach conviction creates a criminal record, and depending on how the bond was entered, the amount promised in the recognizance can also be forfeited. Contact the complainant initiates — a text message you answer, for example — can still be a breach. The order binds you, not them.

Refusing to enter into a peace bond the court has ordered also has consequences: the court can commit the person to prison for up to 12 months.

When is a peace bond a good resolution?

For many people, a peace bond is an excellent outcome: the charge is withdrawn, there is no trial, no criminal record and no risk of conviction. It can be the right choice where the evidence creates real risk at trial or where a quick resolution matters for employment, immigration or family reasons. It may be the wrong choice where the Crown’s case is weak and a full withdrawal or acquittal is realistic, or where the proposed conditions would make daily life unworkable — for example, the complainant lives in the same building or works at the same place.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to admit guilt to sign a peace bond?

No. In the usual resolution, you acknowledge only that the complainant has reasonable grounds to fear you. You do not plead guilty, and no finding is made that you committed the offence.

How long does a peace bond last?

An ordinary section 810 peace bond can last up to 12 months. Twelve months is common, but shorter terms can sometimes be negotiated depending on the facts.

Is a peace bond the same as a restraining order?

No. A peace bond is a criminal court order under the Criminal Code. A restraining order is made by a family court under provincial family law. Both can include no-contact terms, but they come from different courts and are enforced differently.

Can a peace bond be changed?

Yes. Either the defendant or the person who asked for the bond can apply to the court to vary its conditions — for example, to allow contact about children once a family court order is in place.

Offered a peace bond? Get advice before you sign

Aaron M. Spektor (LSO #51731A) has negotiated and reviewed peace bond resolutions for 30 years, and he handles every file personally. For a free, confidential consultation, call (416) 599-1900 or contact us online — intake is available 24/7.

Sources

• Criminal Code, s. 810 (Sureties to keep the peace) — Justice Laws
• Criminal Code, s. 811 (Breach of recognizance) — Justice Laws
• Getting a peace bond — Government of Ontario
• Applying for a peace bond — Department of Justice Canada

This article is general information about Ontario criminal law, not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts; speak with a lawyer about your specific situation.