---
title: Dawson Creek bylaw fines and how tickets work
question: "How much are bylaw tickets in Dawson Creek, and how do I pay or dispute one?"
place: Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/dawson-creek
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Dawson Creek
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/bylaw-fines/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/bylaw-fines.json"
---

# Dawson Creek bylaw fines and how tickets work

**Question:** How much are bylaw tickets in Dawson Creek, and how do I pay or dispute one?

**Short answer:** Dawson Creek has two ticket systems. A bylaw notice (Bylaw 4277) is for first-time or minor offences, with fines up to $500. A municipal ticket (Bylaw 4278) is for repeat or more serious offences, with fines up to $1,000. To dispute a bylaw notice, return the adjudication request form within 14 days.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** Examples, bylaw notice (municipal ticket): unlicensed dog $150 ($500); dog at large $150 ($500); noise $250 ($500); unsightly property $250 ($500); parked on a street over 24 hours $50; cart over 50 kg $150 ($300). Pay within 14 days for the lower amount in the schedule.  
**How long:** Dispute request due within 14 days of receiving the bylaw notice.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-784-3657
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca
- In person: City Hall cashier, 10105 12A Street, Dawson Creek, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- By mail: Mail a cheque or money order, PO Box 150, Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4G4

## Key facts

- **How tickets work:** Two systems. Bylaw notice (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277): for first-time or minor offences, disputes heard locally by a provincially appointed adjudicator, fines up to $500. Municipal ticket information (Bylaw No. 4278): for repeat or more serious offences, heard in BC Provincial Court, fines up to $1,000. Tickets are issued by Bylaw Enforcement Officers (and, for some bylaws, RCMP officers, animal control officers or inspectors).
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Disputing a bylaw violation; types of offence notices](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "Used for first time offenders or minor offences." … "Fines of up to $500 per offence." … "Used for repeat offenders or more serious offences." … "Fines of up to $1,000 per offence." … "Heard in the Provincial Court of B.C., usually heard by a Judicial Justice of the Peace (JJP)"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, s. 10.1, Schedule A](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "are designated Bylaw Enforcement Officers for the purpose of enforcing the bylaws listed in Column A2 of Schedule"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, s. 3.1, 3.4](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "The dollar amounts in Column A4 of Schedule"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Common fines:** Bylaw notice amounts (municipal ticket in brackets): unlicensed dog $150 ($500); dog at large $150 ($500); noise $250 ($500); unsightly property $250 ($500); parked on a street over 24 hours $50; cart weighing over 50 kg $150 ($300).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4420 4.1 Unlicensed dog or cat 150 125 175 Yes" … "4420 5.1 Animals at large 150 125 175 No" … "3873 3.1.a 250 200 300 Yes" … "4190 3.1 unsightly 250 200 300 Yes" … "4214 3.1.p Park on highway more than 24 hours 50 25 75 No" … "4380 4.3 Collection cart weights 50 kg or more 150 100 175 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, Schedules B, J, M, S](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "4420 4.1 Unlicensed dog or cat 500" … "4420 5.1 Animals at large 500" … "3873 3.1 Permit noise that disturbs the neighborhood 500" … "4190 3.1 Permit property to become/remain unsightly 500" … "4380 4.3 Collection cart weights 50 kg or more 300"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying early:** Pay within 14 days of receiving the notice to get the reduced early-payment amount listed in the schedule (for example $125 instead of $150 for an unlicensed dog). The City must receive the payment by then; postmarks do not count. For some offences a compliance agreement can reduce the penalty to 50%.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, s. 4.2, 9.1.d](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "The Early Payment Penalty set out in Column A5 of Schedule "B" if received by the City within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the notice;" … "To provide for payment of a reduced penalty if a compliance agreement is entered into"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Disputing / Paying the Notice](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "Reduced penalty when paid within 14 calendar days" … "Postmarks are not accepted as date of payment." … "When you agree to correct a Bylaw violation, in some instances the City will accept a reduced penalty. Parking violations are not applicable."
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4420 4.1 Unlicensed dog or cat 150 125 175 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying late:** Pay the full penalty 15 to 30 days after receiving the notice. After that a higher late penalty applies (for example $175 for an unlicensed dog) until day 60; after 60 days the ticket goes to a collection agency. (Sources differ: The bylaw (s. 4.2.c) says 'more than 31 days' and s. 6.2 says 'after 30 days'; the City page says 31 to 60 days. Day 31 is treated differently in the texts. Some offences have a late amount equal to the standard amount (for example Stage 1 water, $100).)
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, How the Adjudication system works](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "Full penalty when paid between 15 and 30 calendar days" … "Late penalty when paid between 31 and 60 calendar days" … "Ticket is sent to collections after 60 calendar days"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, s. 4.2.c](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "The Late Payment Penalty set out in Column A6 of Schedule "B" if received more than 31 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the Bylaw Notice."
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4420 4.1 Unlicensed dog or cat 150 125 175 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Disputing a ticket:** Within 14 days of receiving the notice, return the adjudication request form to City Hall. A screening officer may cancel it or offer a compliance agreement; otherwise pay or schedule a hearing. No disputes after 14 days unless you did not receive the notice and tell the City within 21 days of issue. If you lose you pay the penalty plus a $25 fee; the decision is final. Municipal tickets go to BC Provincial Court.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, s. 6.1, 6.2, 7.3](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "request dispute adjudication," … "but no person may dispute the notice after 14 days of receiving the bylaw notice." … "must pay the City an additional fee of $25 for the purpose of the City recovering the costs of the adjudication system."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Disputing a bylaw violation](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "you will tell the screening officer which method of hearing you prefer: through writing, by email, by phone or in person." … "No. The adjudicator's decision is final." … "adjudication fee of $25 to offset the cost of the process." … "If you tell the Bylaw office within 21 days of the issue date of the notice that you did not receive the original, the Bylaw Offence Notice may be reissued and the dispute period extended for an additional 14 days."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, 2016 (bylaw notice amounts, Schedule B); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, 2016 (ticket amounts, Schedules B to BB)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, 2016"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, 2016"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Dawson Creek issues tickets under two systems. A bylaw notice under [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178>) is for first-time or minor offences, with fines up to $500, and disputes are heard locally by a provincially appointed adjudicator. A municipal ticket under [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527>) is for repeat or more serious offences, with fines up to $1,000, and goes to BC Provincial Court. Bylaw Enforcement Officers issue tickets, and for some bylaws so do RCMP officers, animal control officers or inspectors.

## Steps

1. Pay within 14 days of receiving the notice to get the reduced early-payment amount in the schedule (for example $125 instead of $150 for an unlicensed dog). The City must receive the payment by then; postmarks do not count.
2. To pay, mail a cheque or money order to PO Box 150, Dawson Creek BC V1G 4G4, or pay at the City Hall cashier, 10105 12A Street, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
3. To dispute a bylaw notice, return the adjudication request form to City Hall within 14 days. A screening officer may cancel the notice or offer a compliance agreement; otherwise you pay or schedule a hearing.

## Good to know

- Later payment costs more. After the early period, the full penalty applies, then a higher late penalty from 31 to 60 days (for example $175 for an unlicensed dog). After 60 days the ticket goes to a collection agency. The bylaw wording differs slightly on day 31, so check the dates on your notice. Some late amounts equal the standard amount.
- No dispute after 14 days, unless you did not receive the notice and tell the City within 21 days of issue.
- If you lose a hearing you pay the penalty plus a $25 fee, and the decision is final.
- For some offences a compliance agreement can reduce the penalty to 50%. Municipal tickets have no early-payment amount in the schedule.
- Parking offences are bylaw-notice only; most are $50 ($25 if paid early).
- A bylaw notice and a municipal ticket for the same kind of offence differ. See the specific answers, such as noise-rules and dog-licence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
- [Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)

## Related questions

- [Dawson Creek noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/noise-rules.md)
- [Dawson Creek fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fireworks.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)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Hudson's Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hudsons-hope/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/bylaw-fines.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/) (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 Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/bylaw-fines/_