Bylaw Enforcement

The District’s Bylaw Department is responsible for the fair and consistent enforcement of municipal bylaws. The Bylaw Officer works to educate residents about bylaw requirements, promote voluntary compliance, and help resolve neighbourhood concerns through a collaborative approach.

While some matters involving public safety, environmental protection, or other significant risks may require proactive enforcement, most bylaw concerns are addressed on a complaint-driven basis. The Bylaw Officer investigates written complaints regarding alleged bylaw violations, including property maintenance, excessive noise, unauthorized land alterations, building-related issues, and other matters regulated by District bylaws.

Bylaw Enforcement Notices, Municipal Tickets & Fines

Ultimately, when efforts at obtaining compliance with District bylaws have failed, Bylaw Enforcement Officers must decide whether the contravention of the bylaws requires enforcement of the bylaw by issuance of a fine. Bylaw Offence Notices and Municipal Ticket Information (MTIs) are issued for both parking violations and municipal bylaw violations.

Fines & Payments

For Bylaw Offence Notices information and fine amounts, please refer to the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. The majority of fines are subject to an early payment discount if paid within 14 days.

For MTI information and fine amounts, please refer to the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw.

How do I pay a ticket?

Payment Options

By Mail: Cheque or money order only (no cash). NSF cheques are subject to additional charges. Postmarks are NOT accepted as proof of payment date.

In Person (during regular business hours): Debit, cash, or cheque paid at the issuing community on the front bottom of the notice.

Online Credit Card Payment: Visit OptionPay to pay online by credit card. Please note third party fees apply.

What happens if I do not pay my tickets?

How much time do I have to dispute my ticket?

You have 14 days from the date of service to deliver, mail, or email a Notice of Dispute to the District.

The Notice of Dispute must include:

Ticket number
Full name and mailing address
Date of the offence
Bylaw name and section

If this information is not provided, the dispute may not be accepted. If the dispute proceeds to adjudication and the adjudicator determines that the offence did occur, a $25 adjudication fee will be added to the fine.

What happens after my dispute has been recieved?

Bylaw Offence Notice

If you dispute a Bylaw Offence Notice, a Screening Officer will contact you to review the matter and obtain any additional information. Following the review, the Notice may be cancelled, modified, or upheld. If the Notice is upheld and you wish to pursue the matter further, you may request that it proceed to an adjudication hearing before an Independent Adjudicator.

If an adjudication hearing is scheduled and you do not attend on the specified date, the Notice will be treated as undisputed. You will be deemed to have accepted responsibility for the offence, and both the fine and any applicable administrative fees will become immediately due and payable.

Municipal Ticket Information (MTI)
If you dispute a Municipal Ticket Information (MTI), you will receive written notice from the Provincial Court Registry advising you of the date, time, and location of your hearing.

If you do not attend court on the scheduled hearing date, the ticket will be treated as undisputed. You will be deemed to have pleaded guilty to the offence, and the full fine amount will become immediately due and payable.

Animal Control and Licencing

Highlands Bylaw Enforcement Procedures Policy

Report a Problem

Complaints must be submitted in writing, with the exception of those that identify urgent contraventions (health and safety), before they will be considered for investigation. All complaints must include complete contact information for the complainant (name, address and telephone number).

Bylaw complaint information is considered confidential and will not be released, except as may be required under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or otherwise required by law. The District may require you to act as a witness, should a bylaw complaint case proceed to Court if an infraction cannot be resolved.

The District will receive complaints in various ways:

Online through our Report an Issue form
By Email
By Fax to 250-474-3677
By mail: Bylaw Officer, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1
Drop off in person to District Office, 1980 Millstream Road