Courtenay bylaw fines and how tickets work
What are the common bylaw fines?
Short answer
The City of Courtenay's fines are set in Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185. Less serious offences get a bylaw notice, for example $100 for no dog licence or $500 for noise which disturbs. Serious offences get a municipal ticket. Paying early costs less, and you have 14 days to dispute.
Key facts
| How tickets work | Two systems under Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185. Less serious offences get a Bylaw Offence Notice (BON), disputed through the City's bylaw adjudication system. More serious offences get a Municipal Ticket Information (MTI), disputed in Provincial Court. Bylaw officers issue them; enforcement is complaint-based.Municipal tickets; Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Part 2; Bylaws · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga bylaw officer may issue a Municipal Ticket Information (MTI) under the Community Charter a Bylaw Offence Notice (BON) under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act the City Bylaw Notice Dispute Adjudication System is established as a dispute adjudication system to resolve disputes in relation to bylaw Bylaw enforcement is complaint-based. |
|---|---|
| Common fines | Bylaw notice full amounts: no dog licence $100; dog at large $200; noise which disturbs $500; unsightly property $100; park truck off truck route $500; storage of unauthorized vehicles $500. Street time-limit parking is not in the schedule.Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo dog licence III.4 $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes Dog at large IV.16 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes Noise which disturbs 5(a) $500.00 $375.00 $500.00 No Unsightly property 3(a) $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes Park truck off truck route Failure to remain on truck route |
| Paying early | Bylaw notice: pay within 14 days of receiving it for the discounted early amount (for example $100 becomes $75). Municipal ticket: the early amount applies if the City receives payment on or before the 30th day after service (for example $1,000 becomes $750).Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, s. 11(b), s. 27(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingif received by the City within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty for early payment If received by the City on or before the 30th day from the date on which the municipal ticket is served, the discounted penalty |
| Paying late | Bylaw notice: if paid more than 30 days after receipt, the higher late amount applies (for example $100 becomes $125). The City also says that if you do not pay or dispute within 14 days you are deemed to have pleaded guilty and the full fine is payable.Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, s. 11(c); Municipal tickets, What happens if you do nothing? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingif more than 30 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the penalty for late payment If you don’t pay the fine or dispute the ticket within 14 calendar days: The full fine becomes immediately payable. |
| Disputing a ticket | Within 14 days of receiving the notice or ticket. Bylaw notice: complete the dispute section on the back of the notice and deliver it in person, by mail or by email; it cannot be disputed after 14 days. If the dispute fails you pay a $25 adjudication fee on top of the penalty. Municipal ticket: submit the dispute form; it goes to Provincial Court.Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, s. 12, 13, 17; Municipal tickets, If you receive a ticket · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingno person may dispute the notice after 14 days of receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice must pay the City a fee of $25.00 in addition to the penalty set out in section 11 You must respond within 14 calendar days from the Date of Service shown on the front of the ticket. If you choose to dispute the ticket, you (or your representative) must attend a hearing at the Provincial Court of British Columbia. |
| Bylaw | Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingMunicipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 |
How it works
The City of Courtenay uses two ticket systems under Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185. Less serious offences get a Bylaw Offence Notice (BON), disputed through the City's bylaw adjudication system. More serious offences get a Municipal Ticket Information (MTI), disputed in Provincial Court. Bylaw officers issue them, and enforcement is complaint-based. The City says most violations are first resolved through education and voluntary compliance.
Good to know
- Bylaw notice amounts (full): no dog licence $100; dog at large $200; noise which disturbs $500; unsightly property $100; park truck off truck route $500; storage of unauthorized vehicles $500. Street time-limit parking is not in the schedule.
- Each bylaw notice line also has an early and a late amount. Pay within 14 days of receiving it for the early amount (for example $100 becomes $75). If paid more than 30 days after receipt, the late amount applies (for example $100 becomes $125).
- Municipal tickets cover signs, pool fences, fill and soil, and tree protection at $1,000. The early amount applies if the City receives payment on or before the 30th day after service (for example $1,000 becomes $750).
- Dispute within 14 days of receiving the notice or ticket. For a bylaw notice, complete the dispute section on the back and deliver it in person, by mail or by email; it cannot be disputed after 14 days. If you lose, you pay a $25 adjudication fee on top of the penalty. For a municipal ticket, submit the dispute form; it goes to Provincial Court.
- The City says that if you do not pay or dispute within 14 days, you are deemed to have pleaded guilty and the full fine is payable.
- Screening officers can offer a compliance agreement (50% off the penalty) for some bylaw notice offences.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Bylaw tickets in British Columbia: early payment, late payment and disputes by municipality →
Sources
- Municipal tickets, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaws, City of Courtenay (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. How answers are checked.