---
title: Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work
question: "What are the common bylaw fines?"
place: Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/abbotsford
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Abbotsford
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines.json"
---

# Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work

**Question:** What are the common bylaw fines?

**Short answer:** In Abbotsford, where a bylaw lists no specific amount, the general penalty is a $500 bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days) or a $1,000 municipal ticket ($500 if paid in full by the 30th day). Many offences have set amounts, such as most parking offences at $75.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Abbotsford, https://www.abbotsford.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $500 ($450 early). Municipal ticket $1,000 ($500 if paid by the 30th day). Parking (most) $75; within 5 m of a hydrant $250; garbage cart offences $100 or $200; extra garage sales $150.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Office, 604-864-5512
- Email: Bylaw Office, bylawservices@abbotsford.ca
- Online: Ticket payment and dispute page, https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/ticket-payments-disputes

## Key facts

- **How tickets work:** The City uses two systems under its Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw: bylaw notices (disputed through the City's own adjudication system) and municipal tickets (disputes go to Provincial Court). Tickets are issued by bylaw enforcement officers, including police, RCMP, bylaw and licensing officers, building inspectors and animal control officers. Dog tickets in Abbotsford are issued by the FVRD under its own bylaw notice system.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 5, 8](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "(a) proceeding by bylaw notice under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act;" … "(b) proceeding by municipal ticket under Division 3 [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences] of" … "(a) special constables, officers, members or constables of the Abbotsford Police" … "(e) licensing inspectors;" … "(g) animal control officers; and" … "the council must refer the ticket to the Provincial Court for a hearing."
  - Source: [Ticket Payments and Disputes, intro](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/ticket-payments-disputes)
  - Official wording: "The Bylaw Adjudication System allows the City to enforce its bylaws using Bylaw Notices (tickets)."
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 4, Schedule A-3](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw 1 No Dog Licence $200 $190 $210"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Common fines:** Parking offences (most): $75. Parking within 5 m of a fire hydrant: $250. Unlicensed dog: $200 (FVRD). Dog at large: $100 (FVRD). Garbage cart offences: $100 or $200. More garage sales than permitted: $150. Offences with no listed amount (noise, unsightly property, fireworks, water restrictions): $500 bylaw notice or $1,000 municipal ticket.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 6, 7(1) Table 1](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "Section 42 (1) (a) to (e) and (g) to (w) and $75" … "Section 42 (1) (f) [parking] of the Street $250" … "Sections 19 [latching requirements for $100" … "Sections 6 [accumulation of solid waste $200" … "Section 5.2 (d) [more garage sales than $150" … "$500 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by bylaw notice;" … "$1 000 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by municipal ticket;"
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Animal Control Bylaw 1 No Dog Licence $200 $190 $210" … "17(a) Dog at Large $100 $90 $110"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying early:** Bylaw notice: $50 discount if paid in full within 14 days of delivery. Municipal ticket: $500 discount if paid in full by the 30th day after the ticket is served. FVRD dog notices have their own early amounts (for example $190 instead of $200 for no dog licence if paid within 14 days).
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 17, 28](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "is discounted by $50 if the penalty is paid in full within 14 days of the delivery of the bylaw notice." … "is discounted by $500 if the penalty is paid in full by the 30th day from the date on which the ticket is served."
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.2](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "received by the Registry within 14 days of a person receiving or being presumed to have"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying late:** Bylaw notice: the amount payable is $500 if not paid within 30 days following the date the penalty becomes due and payable. Municipal ticket: the $500 discount applies only if paid by the 30th day. FVRD dog notices: a late amount applies if paid more than 28 days after receipt (for example $210 for no dog licence).
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 18, 28](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "is $500 if not paid within 30 days following the date the penalty becomes due and payable." … "is discounted by $500 if the penalty is paid in full by the 30th day from the date on which the ticket is served."
  - Source: [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated), s. 5.3](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "payment is received more than 28 days after a person received or is presumed to have"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Disputing a ticket:** Bylaw notice: within 14 days of delivery, pay or request dispute adjudication using the City's online or paper Ticket Dispute Application Form (not by phone or at the counter). A screening officer reviews it and may cancel it or agree a compliance agreement; otherwise an adjudicator hears it at City Hall. A $25 fee is added if the dispute fails. Municipal ticket: give written notice of dispute within 14 days of service, and the ticket goes to Provincial Court.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), s. 14, 16, 19, 20(3), 25, 26](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "A person who receives a bylaw notice must, within 14 days of delivery of the bylaw notice," … "(b) request dispute adjudication in respect of the allegation made in the bylaw notice in" … "A fee of $25 is payable by a person who is unsuccessful in a dispute adjudication in" … "the council must refer the ticket to the Provincial Court for a hearing."
  - Source: [Ticket Payments and Disputes, Ticket Dispute Application Form](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/ticket-payments-disputes)
  - Official wording: "A dispute must be submitted within the first 14 days of the date a ticket is issued." … "Please note that we do not accept ticket disputes over the phone" … "All ticket disputes must be submitted using one of the applications forms list above."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (Bylaw No. 3017-2020)
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017), title](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020" … "Bylaw No. 3017-2020"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City uses two systems under its [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw](<https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017>): bylaw notices (disputed through the City's own adjudication system) and municipal tickets (disputes go to Provincial Court). Tickets are issued by bylaw enforcement officers, including police, RCMP, bylaw and licensing officers, building inspectors and animal control officers. Dog tickets in Abbotsford are issued by the FVRD under its own bylaw notice system.

Bylaw Services starts with education, then voluntary compliance, then formal steps such as tickets.

## Common amounts

- Parking offences (most): $75. Parking within 5 m of a fire hydrant: $250.
- Garbage cart offences: $100 or $200. More garage sales than permitted: $150.
- Unlicensed dog: $200 (FVRD). Dog at large: $100 (FVRD).
- Offences with no listed amount (noise, unsightly property, fireworks, water restrictions): $500 bylaw notice or $1,000 municipal ticket.

## Paying early or late

- Bylaw notice: $50 off if paid in full within 14 days of delivery. Section 18 says the amount payable is $500 if the notice is not paid within 30 days following the date the penalty becomes due and payable.
- Municipal ticket: the $500 discount applies only if paid in full by the 30th day after the ticket is served.
- FVRD dog notices have their own early and late amounts (for example $190 early and $210 late, instead of $200, for no dog licence).
- Unpaid amounts can be collected as a court judgment, by collection agency, or added to property taxes.

## Disputing a ticket

- Bylaw notice: within 14 days of delivery, pay or request adjudication using the City's online or paper Ticket Dispute Application Form (not by phone or at the counter). A screening officer reviews it and may cancel it or agree a compliance agreement; otherwise an adjudicator hears it at City Hall. A $25 fee is added if the dispute fails.
- Municipal ticket: give written notice of dispute within 14 days of service, and the ticket goes to Provincial Court.
- Questions: Bylaw Office, 604-864-5512, bylawservices@abbotsford.ca.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017)
- [Ticket Payments and Disputes (City of Abbotsford)](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/ticket-payments-disputes)

## Related questions

- [Abbotsford noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/noise-rules.md)
- [Abbotsford dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/dog-licence.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Bylaw tickets in British Columbia: early payment, late payment and disputes by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Mission](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Chilliwack](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Maple Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Pitt Meadows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/bylaw-fines.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017)](https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Payments and Disputes, City of Abbotsford](https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/ticket-payments-disputes) (read 2026-11-05)
- [FVRD Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 1415, 2017, Schedule A-3 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/Government/Documents/Bylaws/Other/CONSOLIDATED%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Abbotsford. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines/_
