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Houston bylaw fines and how tickets work

What are the common bylaw fines in Houston?

Houston, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

How tickets workTwo 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, ss. 3, 4, 7, 8; Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014, s. 4.0 and Schedule A; Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018, s. 3(6) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
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.
refer disputed tickets to the Provincial Court of British Columbia; or
Common finesBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
Paying early25% off if paid within 14 calendar days of issuance (for example $150 becomes $112.50).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026, Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Early Payment Discount: A 25% discount applies ifthe penalty is paid within 14 calendar days of issuance
Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50
Paying late25% 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026, Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 replacing s. 6(1); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A, Schedule A column A3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Late Payment Surcharge: A 25% surcharge applies (to a maximum of $500) if
After 28 Days
Dog at Large $150.0 $112.50 $187.50
Disputing a ticketFollow 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, ss. 7, 8, 10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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.
BylawBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, s. 1; Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014, s. 2.0 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This Bylaw may be cited as the "District of Houston Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025."
Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014”.

How it works

There are two systems. Bylaw notices (Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025, 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) 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 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

The same question in other places

Smithers · Granisle · New Hazelton · Fraser Lake · Kitimat · Vanderhoof

Bylaw tickets in British Columbia: early payment, late payment and disputes by municipality →

Sources

  1. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1216, 2025 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1230, 2026, Schedule A (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Amendment Bylaw No. 1233, 2026 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Municipal Ticketing Information System Implementation Bylaw No. 1060, 2014 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Municipal Ticket Information Amendment Bylaw No. 1129, 2019 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  6. Animal Control Bylaw No. 1112, 2018 (PDF), District of Houston (read 2026-11-08)
  7. Contact Us, District of Houston (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. How answers are checked.