{"title":"Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work","question":"What are the common bylaw fines in Houston?","slug":"bylaw-fines","place":{"path":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Houston","url":"https://houston.ca"},"short_answer":"Houston has two ticket systems side by side: bylaw notices and municipal tickets. A bylaw notice for common offences such as an unlicensed dog, a dog at large, quiet-hours noise or unsightly premises is $150. Pay within 14 days for 25% off.","aliases":["bylaw fines houston","bylaw ticket houston bc","dispute bylaw notice houston","pay bylaw ticket houston"],"cost":"Bylaw notice examples: unlicensed dog $150; dog at large $150; excessive barking $150; quiet-hours noise $150; unsightly premises $150; water restriction breach $150; unlawful sale of fireworks $200; parking a vehicle over 5,000 kg in a residential zone overnight $100. Municipal ticket examples: unlicensed dog $50, dog at large $100, barking $200. 25% off if paid within 14 days; 25% added after 28 days (maximum $500).","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Office","value":"3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays"},{"type":"phone","label":"Municipal Office","value":"250-845-2238","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/"},{"title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/"},{"title":"Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston","url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/"}],"related":[{"slug":"dog-licence","title":"Houston dog licences: fees and how to get one","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Houston unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property/"},{"slug":"fireworks","title":"Houston fireworks rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/fireworks/"},{"slug":"water-restrictions","title":"Houston watering restrictions","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/water-restrictions/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines/"},{"place":"ca/bc/granisle","name":"Granisle","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/bylaw-fines/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-hazelton","name":"New Hazelton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/bylaw-fines/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fraser-lake","name":"Fraser Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/bylaw-fines/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kitimat","name":"Kitimat","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/bylaw-fines/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vanderhoof","name":"Vanderhoof","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/bylaw-fines/"}],"topic":{"title":"Bylaw tickets in British Columbia: early payment, late payment and disputes by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bylaw-fines/"},"facts":{"how_tickets_work":{"label":"How tickets work","value":"Two systems. Bylaw notices (Bylaw No. 1216, 2025) are issued by Bylaw Enforcement Officers, RCMP officers, the Director of Planning, Building Inspector or Fire Chief; disputes go to a Screening Officer, then adjudication. Municipal tickets (Bylaw No. 1060, 2014) are issued by the officers in its Schedule A (Bylaw Enforcement Officers, RCMP, and for some bylaws the Building or Licence Inspector); disputes go to Provincial Court.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 3, 4, 7, 8","quotes":["The bylaws listed in the ”Designated Bylaws\" column of Schedule A to this Bylaw may be","RCMP Officers;","Fire Chief;","Confirm the bylaw notice and refer the dispute to adjudication; or"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/","title":"Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 4.0 and Schedule A","quotes":["may be enforced by means of a ticket in the form prescribed for the purpose of","RCMP Police Officer","The persons who act in the job positions or titles listed in Column 2 of Schedule “A”to this bylaw are designated Bylaw Enforcement Officers for the purpose of enforcing the bylaws listed in Column 1 of Schedule “A”opposite the respective job position."]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 3(6)","quotes":["refer disputed tickets to the Provincial Court of British Columbia; or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"example_fines":{"label":"Common fines","value":"Bylaw notice: unlicensed dog $150; dog at large $150; excessive barking $150; quiet-hours noise $150; unsightly premises $150; water restriction breach $150; unlawful sale of fireworks $200; parking a vehicle over 5,000 kg in a residential zone overnight $100.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50","Excessive Barking $150.00 $112.50 $187.50","Contravention of Stage 1","3.0 Restrictions $150.00 $112.50 $187.50","or Disposalof UnlawfulSale 5.0 $200.00 $150.00 $250.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"early_payment":{"label":"Paying early","value":"25% off if paid within 14 calendar days of issuance (for example $150 becomes $112.50).","short":"25% off if paid in 14 days","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1)","quotes":["Early Payment Discount: A 25% discount applies ifthe penalty is paid within 14 calendar days of issuance"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"late_payment":{"label":"Paying late","value":"25% added (up to a maximum of $500) if unpaid after 14 calendar days; the schedule shows the late amount as applying \"after 28 days\" (for example $150 becomes $187.50).","short":"25% added (max $500) after 14 days","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1)","quotes":["Late Payment Surcharge: A 25% surcharge applies (to a maximum of $500) if"]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","section":"Schedule A column A3","quotes":["After 28 Days","Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"},"sources_differ":"The bylaw text (14 days) and the schedule heading (28 days) differ; Bylaw 1233 amended the text only."},"dispute":{"label":"Disputing a ticket","value":"Follow the dispute instructions on the notice. The bylaw gives 14 days to pay unless you dispute; the provincial Act requires at least 14 days after you receive the notice (7th day after mailing, if mailed). A Screening Officer can cancel it, reduce the penalty, or send it to adjudication (RDBN registry, Burns Lake). An unsuccessful disputant pays $25.","short":"See notice; $25 if unsuccessful","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"ss. 7, 8, 10","quotes":["A person who disputes a bylaw notice and is unsuccessful must pay an adjudication fee","Cancel a bylaw notice if issued in error;","Reduce the penalty amount under extenuating circumstances.","A person must pay a penalty within 14 days, unless disputing the bylaw notice."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, as amended by Bylaws No. 1230 and 1233, 2026; and Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014, as amended by Bylaw No. 1129, 2019.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as the \"District of Houston Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025.\""]},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/","title":"Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston","section":"s. 2.0","quotes":["Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014”."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":6,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThere are two systems. **Bylaw notices** ([Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/), as amended by Bylaws 1230 and 1233, 2026) are issued by Bylaw Enforcement Officers, RCMP officers, the Director of Planning, the Building Inspector or the Fire Chief. Disputes go to a Screening Officer, then adjudication. **Municipal tickets** ([Bylaw No. 1060, 2014](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/)) are issued by the officers listed in its Schedule A. Disputes go to Provincial Court. Check which system lists the offence: older schedules from repealed bylaws (Development Bylaw 1040, Noise, Standards of Maintenance 1051, Garbage 938) no longer match a current bylaw.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Early payment:** 25% off if paid within 14 calendar days of issuance (a $150 notice is $112.50). [Bylaw No. 1233, 2026](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/) changed the early-payment deadline.\n- **Late payment:** 25% is added (up to a maximum of $500) if unpaid after 14 calendar days. The schedule shows the late amount as applying \"after 28 days\" (a $150 notice is $187.50). The bylaw text and the schedule differ, so confirm with the Municipal Office.\n- **Disputing a bylaw notice:** follow the dispute instructions on the notice. A Screening Officer can cancel it, reduce the penalty, or send it to adjudication (RDBN registry, Burns Lake). An unsuccessful disputant pays $25. Municipal tickets are disputed in Provincial Court.\n- **Questions:** Municipal Office, 250-845-2238, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.","sources":[{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/","title":"Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/","title":"Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://houston.ca/contact/","title":"Contact Us, District of Houston","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 6 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines.json"}}