# Gov Handbook: Bowen Island, British Columbia, Canada

> 24 answers about local government in Bowen Island. Hub page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/ · All answers as JSON: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/index.json · Full text: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/llms-full.txt

## Building, renovating and your property

- [Bowen Island building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/building-permit.md): On Bowen Island you need a Municipality building permit to build a new structure, demolish or alter one, or build an accessory building over 10 m², among other work. Email a complete PDF application to building@bimbc.ca or apply through the Province's Building Permit Hub.
- [Bowen Island fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fence-rules.md): On Bowen Island a fence does not need a building permit (retaining walls are the exception), but one in a development permit area may need a development permit. Fences up to 2.5 m high may go on any part of a lot. Ask Planning about anything taller.
- [Bowen Island permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/deck-shed-garage-permit.md): On Bowen Island you need a building permit for an accessory building over 10 m² (about 108 ft²) and for a deck more than 0.6 m (about 2 ft) above grade. Smaller sheds and low decks need no building permit but must still follow the Land Use Bylaw.
- [Bowen Island building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/building-permit-fees.md): In Bowen Island Municipality the building permit application fee is the greater of $150 or 0.25% of the value of work, paid with the application. The permit fee is then $10 per $1,000 of value above $1,000, up to $150,000, under Building Bylaw No. 489, Appendix C.
- [Bowen Island zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/zoning-lookup.md): In Bowen Island Municipality, zones are shown on Schedule B, the Land Use Bylaw Map, on the Municipality's Land Use Bylaw page. Its online map, BowMap, locates a property and shows development permit areas. Each zone's rules are in Land Use Bylaw No. 57.
- [Bowen Island secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/secondary-suite.md): Yes. Bowen Island allows one secondary suite per property, inside the house or detached, where the zone permits Accessory Residential Use. Both need a building permit, and a detached suite also needs a development permit unless exempt.
- [Bowen Island tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/tree-removal.md): Bowen Island has no municipal tree removal bylaw or permit. But in a development permit area, such as the Watershed, Aquifer and Stream Protection area, cutting trees likely needs a development permit. Check BowMap or ask Planning first.

## Garbage, recycling and waste

- [Bowen Island garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/garbage-collection.md): In Bowen Island, regular garbage is picked up bi-weekly on Tuesdays, alternating between the east and west sides of the island. Organics are picked up every Wednesday island-wide. There is no curbside recycling. The garbage parcel tax is $650 per parcel, included in property taxes.
- [Bowen Island yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/yard-waste.md): In Bowen Island, yard trimmings are collected with organics every Wednesday, island-wide. You can put out up to three cans, bags or bundles per property, not counting one container of kitchen waste. Tie sticks in bundles. There is no separate charge; it is covered by the fee in property taxes.

## Water, sewer, roads and snow

- [Bowen Island watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/water-restrictions.md): Yes. Under Bowen Island's Water Conservation Bylaw, Stage 1 restrictions apply in all municipal water systems from May 1 through October 15 each year, and the Municipality can raise the stage. In Stage 1, lawns can be watered one morning a week between 5 and 9 a.m. Check the website for the current stage.

## Pets, animals and wildlife

- [Bowen Island dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-licence.md): Bowen Island Municipality does not require dog licences, so there is no licence to buy and no licence fee. A dog off its owner's property must wear a collar tag with the owner's last name and phone number. Tags are sold at pet stores, not by the Municipality.
- [Bowen Island dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dog-leash-rules.md): In Bowen Island, dogs may not run at large. On public property a dog must be on a leash, or off leash within 3 metres of its owner and under command. Dogs must be leashed in Snug Cove, around Grafton Lake and in Crippen Regional Park, and are banned from three beaches in July and August.
- [Bowen Island rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/dangerous-dogs.md): In Bowen Island, a dangerous dog is one that has killed or seriously injured a person or a companion or domestic animal, or that an animal control officer believes is likely to. Off its owner's property it must be muzzled and on a leash no longer than 2 metres, and it must be housed in a secure enclosure.
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/how-many-pets.md): Bowen Island's Dog Control Bylaw and Land Use Bylaw set no limit on the number of dogs or cats a household can keep. The Land Use Bylaw does define a kennel as three or more dogs or cats kept for money, and limits where kennels are allowed.
- [Bowen Island backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-chickens.md): Bowen Island's Land Use Bylaw does not mention hens, chickens, roosters or bees. It allows "domestic agriculture" for personal use in some residential zones, but does not say whether hens count. No hen limit, coop rule or permit is set. Ask Planning before buying birds.

## Parking, tickets and driving

- [Bowen Island RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md): In Bowen Island, a licensed trailer can be parked on a street for up to 72 hours without a permit, and an unlicensed one cannot be parked on a roadway, boulevard or sidewalk. The bylaws we read do not set rules for storing an RV or boat on your own lot. Living in an RV on a lot is generally not allowed.

## Bylaws, noise and complaints

- [Bowen Island noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/noise-rules.md): Bowen Island's Noise Control Bylaw bans noise that disturbs neighbours at any hour and sets no fixed quiet hours. Construction noise is banned before 7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. The first bylaw notice is $50. Call Bylaw Services at 604-947-4255 ext. 2.
- [Bowen Island unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/unsightly-property.md): Bowen Island's Real Property Maintenance Bylaw requires owners to keep property from becoming unsightly or a risk to health and safety. To report a problem, call Bylaw Services at 604-947-4255 ext. 2 or email bylaw@bimbc.ca. The first bylaw notice is $100.
- [Bowen Island backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/backyard-fire.md): In Bowen Island you can have a recreational campfire up to 0.5 metres high and 0.5 metres wide, burning clean dry wood, without a permit. Burning yard waste needs a Category 2 permit ($50) and a Metro Vancouver registration. No fires are allowed during a ban or extreme fire danger.
- [Bowen Island fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/fireworks.md): In Bowen Island's public places (parks, trails, beaches, streets, municipal wharfs), setting off fireworks without a permit is banned and the bylaw notice is $500. No Municipal bylaw we read sets rules for fireworks on private property. The Fire Danger Rating page says no fireworks between April 15 and October 15.
- [Bowen Island bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/bylaw-fines.md): Bowen Island uses bylaw notices under its Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. Each bylaw has a schedule with the penalty, an early-payment amount if paid within 14 days, and a late amount after 28 days. Typical first offences: dog at large $25, noise $50, unsightly premises $100. No Municipal Ticket Information bylaw was found.

## Starting and running a business

- [Bowen Island business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/business-licence.md): Yes. Every business operating on Bowen Island needs a Bowen Island Municipality licence, with a few exemptions. Email the signed application to businesslicence@bimbc.ca. Fees run from free (non-profit) to $125 a year plus a first-time application fee.
- [Bowen Island home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/home-based-business.md): In Bowen Island Municipality you can run a home occupation where your zone lists it as a permitted use, and you need a Bowen Island business licence. The licence is $100 a year if the public can drop in, or $25 a year if not, plus a $50 application fee.

## Housing and renting

- [Bowen Island short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/short-term-rental.md): In Bowen Island Municipality you can run a short-term rental in your principal residence, plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling on the same lot, with a Bowen Island business licence. You must also register with the Province.

## Zoning

- [All 31 zones in Bowen Island, as JSON](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/zoning/index.json)
- Zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St