Restraining Orders, Peace Bonds, and No-Contact Orders in Canada
The difference between restraining orders, peace bonds, protection orders, and no-contact conditions in Canada. Plain-language legal information, not advice.
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Plain-Language Summary
People often search for a "restraining order" when they want someone to stop contacting them, stay away from them, or stop coming near their home, work, school, or family.
In Canada, "restraining order" is not always the right criminal-law term. Depending on the situation, the order may be a civil or family restraining order, a provincial protection orderA broad term for an order intended to protect a person from contact, harm, or harassment., a Criminal CodeA federal act codifying most criminal offences in Canada peace bond, or a no-contact conditionA condition requiring a person not to contact someone. in a criminal case. This page explains the differences in plain language.
If someone is in immediate danger
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 or local emergency services. This page is general legal information and is not a substitute for legal advice or emergency help.
What people usually mean by "restraining order"
People who search for a "restraining order" may mean:
- an order stopping contact;
- an order keeping someone away from a home, workplace, school, or family member;
- a protection order after family violence;
- a peace bond where someone fears harm;
- a criminal no-contact condition after charges;
- a probation or sentence condition after a finding of guilt.
Quick comparison
These terms are often used loosely, but they point to different legal tools:
| Public term | Canadian legal concept | Usually criminal, family, civil, or provincial? | Basic idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restraining order | Civil/family restraining order, depending on province | Usually civil or family | A court order limiting contact or attendance |
| Protection order | A provincial, family, civil, or emergency protection order depending on province and facts | Often provincial / family-violence related | Meant to protect someone from harm, contact, or attendance at certain places |
| Peace bond | Criminal Code section 810 order | Criminal Code | A court order to keep the peace and follow conditions |
| No-contact order / condition | An order or condition in an undertaking, release order, bail order, peace bond, probation order, conditional sentence, sentence, or another order | Often criminal | Limits contact with a named person |
| Stay-away condition | Condition in a release, peace bond, probation, or sentence order | Often criminal | A condition preventing attendance at certain places |
Peace bonds
A peace bond is a Criminal Code order. It may be used where a person fears, on reasonable grounds, that someone will harm them, harm their child or intimate partner, damage their property, or commit certain listed offences.
A peace bond can require the person to keep the peace and follow conditions, such as having no contact with someone or staying away from certain places.
No-contact orders and no-contact conditions
In a criminal case, no-contact orders or no-contact conditions can appear at different stages. They may be made by police or a court, depending on the situation. They may be part of an undertaking, release order, bail order, peace bond, probation order, conditional sentence, sentence, or another order.
Breaching a no-contact condition can have serious consequences and may lead to new charges or loss of release.
Protection orders and emergency protection orders
Some protection orders are provincial, especially in family-violence situations. The name, process, urgency, and available conditions vary by province or territory.
Because these orders can involve provincial family or civil law, this page only gives a general overview.
Is a restraining order the same as a peace bond?
No. People use the words loosely, but they are not the same thing. A restraining order is often a civil or family-law order. A peace bond is a Criminal Code order. A no-contact condition may be part of a criminal case. The correct term depends on the situation.
What if criminal charges already exist?
If criminal charges already exist, the accused may already have release conditions, bail conditions, or another order limiting contact. The complainant does not personally control those conditions, but they may be able to tell police, victim services, or Crown counsel about safety concerns.
What if there are no criminal charges?
If there are no criminal charges, a peace bond or a provincial/civil protection order may still be relevant depending on the facts. The available process varies by province and situation.
Breaching an order
Breaching a peace bond, bail condition, probation condition, or other court order can be serious. In some cases it can lead to arrest, new charges, or changes to release.
This page is general legal information, not legal advice
This page is general legal information for Canada. It is not legal advice. Protection orders, peace bonds, no-contact conditions, and restraining orders can depend on the province, the facts, and whether criminal charges exist. If you are in danger, contact emergency services. If you need legal advice, speak with a lawyer or local legal aid service.
Common Legal Terms
Terms marked with a dotted underline in the article above are defined here and available in the full site glossary.
- Judicial interim release Glossary entry →
Commonly referred to as bail, it is a judicial order that releases the accused from custody prior to trial. The release is unconditional unless the prosecutor shows cause to impose certain conditions.
- No-contact condition Glossary entry →
A no-contact condition is a term in an order that tells a person not to contact a named person, directly or indirectly. It may apply through a release order, undertaking, peace bond, probation order, conditional sentence, or another criminal-court order.
- No-contact order Glossary entry →
A no-contact order limits or prevents contact with a named person. In a criminal case, no-contact terms may be made by police or a court and may appear in an undertaking, release order, bail order, peace bond, probation order, conditional sentence, sentence, or another order.
- Probation Glossary entry →
Probation is a court order requiring an offender to follow conditions for a set period while living in the community. Conditions may include reporting, counselling, no contact, staying away from places, or keeping the peace.
- Protection order Glossary entry →
Protection order is a broad term for a court or statutory order intended to protect a person from contact, harm, harassment, or attendance at specified places. Depending on the province and context, it may mean a family-law or civil protection order. Criminal proceedings more often use no-contact terms in an undertaking or release order, probation conditions, or a peace bond.
- Stay-away condition Glossary entry →
A stay-away condition tells a person not to go to a certain place or near a certain person. It may appear in a release order, peace bond, probation order, sentence, or another court order.
Legal sources
The official statute section(s) this page is based on. Always confirm against the official source before relying on it.
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Criminal Code s. 810 Criminal Code reference for peace bondsLast reviewed by CCH: 2026-07-04View official source ↗
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General legal information only. Not legal advice. We do our best to keep this page accurate and up to date, but criminal law can change and every case depends on its facts. Check the review date and consult the Criminal Code or a criminal defence lawyer before relying on this information.
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Criminal Code Help explains selected Criminal Code offences and related legal concepts in plain language. The goal is to help readers understand the general meaning of the law without having to read the full statutory text.
This page is a simplified summary. It does not include every exception, definition, court interpretation, evidentiary issue, Charter issue, sentencing factor, or procedural rule that may apply in a real case.
Legal information, not legal advice
This page is general legal information only. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as advice about any specific charge, investigation, court file, or personal situation.
Possible defences and legal issues depend on the facts, the evidence, the exact charge, current Canadian law, and the province or territory where the case is being handled. If you are facing a criminal charge or researching a real legal problem, speak with a criminal defence lawyer in your province or territory.