On April 11, a 15-year-old girl lost her life while exploring an abandoned factory in Shawinigan, a site that was off-limits to the public. Places like disused buildings, rooftops, tunnels, and drains are often magnets for urban explorers seeking adventure. Urban exploration, or urbex for short, is about venturing into abandoned, off-limits, or hard-to-reach places, without causing damage. Many urban explorers take photos or videos of the places they visit and share them online. But be careful! Even the most experienced explorers face real risks: legal consequences and serious, or even fatal, injuries.
Despite what some may think, abandoned places still have owners. Entering a building or site without the owner’s permission is against the law.
There are two types of legal consequences to watch out for: civil liability and criminal liability.
You could be held responsible by a civil court for violating someone’s right to privacy, like by trespassing on their property or taking things without permission. Damaging buildings or items can also count as a civil fault.
If you cause harm in this way, the owner could sue you in civil court and ask that you pay them compensatory damages, which is money to cover the harm you caused. They can also ask that you pay punitive damages, which are intended to punish your behaviour.
Possible criminal charges
Urbex can also lead to criminal charges, particularly for breaking and entering, mischief and theft.
Breaking and entering is entering a place without the owner’s permission with the intent to commit a crime, whether a crime is actually committed or not. It’s up to the urban explorer to prove in court that they didn’t intend to do anything illegal in the place they explored.
Explorers could also be found guilty of mischief if they damage the building or items inside while they explore.
They could also be charged with theft if they leave the site with something that doesn’t belong to them.
If a court finds the urban explorer guilty of a crime, the sentence can range from fines to jail time. For youth under 18, courts may give out a youth sentence like community service.
The unwritten rules of the urbex community
The urbex community also has its own rules and recommendations. These aren’t legal rules, but explorers are strongly encouraged to follow the rules and recommendations to keep the practice respectful, ethical and safe.
Along with being cautious and alert, one of the most important rules for urban explorers is to respect the places they visit. This means:
- not forcing their way in,
- not moving, breaking or taking anything,
- not sharing the name or address of the place,
- avoiding going in large groups.
The urbex community also recommends following safety tips like never exploring alone or always bringing a phone, a flashlight and a first aid kit.