---
title: Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work
question: "What are the common bylaw fines in Houston?"
place: Houston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/houston
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Houston
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines.json"
---

# Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Houston, https://houston.ca)  
**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:**
- In person: Municipal Office, 3367 12th Street, Houston, BC V0J 1Z0 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed statutory holidays)
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-845-2238 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **How tickets work:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, ss. 3, 4, 7, 8](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014, s. 4.0 and Schedule A](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, s. 3(6)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/)
  - Official wording: "refer disputed tickets to the Provincial Court of British Columbia; or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Common fines:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Paying early:** 25% off if paid within 14 calendar days of issuance (for example $150 becomes $112.50).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026, Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/)
  - Official wording: "Early Payment Discount: A 25% discount applies ifthe penalty is paid within 14 calendar days of issuance"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/)
  - Official wording: "Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Paying late:** 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). (Sources differ: The bylaw text (14 days) and the schedule heading (28 days) differ; Bylaw 1233 amended the text only.)
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026, Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1)](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/)
  - Official wording: "Late Payment Surcharge: A 25% surcharge applies (to a maximum of $500) if"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A column A3](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/)
  - Official wording: "After 28 Days" … "Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Disputing a ticket:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, ss. 7, 8, 10](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, s. 1](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the "District of Houston Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025.""
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014, s. 2.0](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/)
  - Official wording: "Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

There 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.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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.
- **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.
- **Questions:** Municipal Office, 250-845-2238, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/)

## Related questions

- [Houston dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/dog-licence.md)
- [Houston unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property.md)
- [Houston fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/fireworks.md)
- [Houston watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/water-restrictions.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)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/bylaw-fines.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/bylaw-fines.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144938/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/144929/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145566/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145104/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145065/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston](https://houston.civicweb.net/document/145077/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Houston](https://houston.ca/contact/) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Houston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/bylaw-fines/_