GovHandbook

Nanaimo bylaw fines and how tickets work

What are the common bylaw fines?

Nanaimo, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Nanaimo's bylaw tickets are set in Schedule A of Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7159. Examples: unleashed dog $100, noise $100, rubbish on property $150, parked over 24 hours $35. Paying within 14 days of receiving the notice earns a lower early-payment amount.

Key facts

How tickets workMost bylaw offences are ticketed by bylaw notice under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, using the penalties in Schedule A of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw. The Noise Control Bylaw and the Fireworks bylaw also carry their own fine schedules for Offence Act tickets.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, s. 4; Noise Control Bylaw 1994 No. 4750, Noise bylaw s. 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
The bylaws and bylaw contraventions designated in Schedule “A” attached hereto and forming part of this bylaw may be dealt with by bylaw notice.
if an information is laid by means of a ticket, in accordance with the
procedure set out in the Offence Act, a fine as stipulated in Schedule
Common finesUnleashed dog $100; unlicensed dog $125; noise $100; rubbish on property $150; parked over 24 hours $35; meter violation $30; garbage cart over 35 kg $100; watering breach $100 (Stage 1), $200 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 4). Early and late payment amounts differ.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
43 Unleashed dog $100.00 $ 75.00 $125.00
3 Noise causing disturbance 100.00 75.00 125.00
4.1 Cause or permit rubbish to collect 150.00 112.50 187.50
5(2) Meter violation 30.00 22.50 37.50
4(21) Parked over 24 hours 35.00 26.25 43.75
44(a) Water on day or time not permitted or 200.00 150.00 250.00
43(a) Water at time not permitted during Stage 1 100.00 125.00 75.00
46(a) Water lawns or boulevards during Stage 4 400.00 300.00 500.00
Paying earlyYes. If the City receives payment within 14 days of the person receiving (or being presumed to receive) the notice, the lower Early Payment Penalty in Schedule A applies (for example $75 instead of $100).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, s. 5(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
If received by the City within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to
have received the notice, is the Early Payment Penalty set out in Schedule “A”.
Paying lateIf paid more than 28 days after the notice was received or presumed received, the higher Late Payment Penalty in Schedule A applies (for example $125 instead of $100). A person may pay after 14 days but may not dispute after 14 days.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, s. 5(3), 6(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
If more than 28 days after the person received or is presumed to have received
the bylaw notice, is subject to a late payment surcharge
but no person may dispute the notice after 14 days of receiving the bylaw
Disputing a ticketWithin 14 days of receiving the notice, pay it or request dispute. The City reviews first: submit the Bylaw Ticket Review Form online, by mail (455 Wallace Street) or in person (411 Dunsmuir Street). If you disagree with the review, you can go to adjudication (hearing with an independent adjudicator). Adjudicator cannot reduce the amount; if the ticket is upheld you pay an extra $25 fee and the full non-discounted amount. Paid tickets cannot be disputed.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, ss. 6(1), 7(2); Dispute Parking Ticket or Bylaw Violation, web page; Adjudication, web page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
must, within 14 days of the date on which
Every person who is unsuccessful in a dispute adjudication in relation to a bylaw
must pay the City an additional fee of $25
Parking Ticket or Bylaw Violation Review
Mail to: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6
a paid ticket or a ticket in collections cannot be reviewed.
The adjudicator has no authority to reduce the ticket amount
There will be an additional $25 fee in the event the ticket is deemed valid. The ticket will also be due at the full non-discounted price.
BylawBylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
BYLAW NOTICE ENFORCEMENT BYLAW 2012 NO. 7159

How it works

Most offences in the City of Nanaimo are ticketed by bylaw notice under the Local Government Bylaw Notice Enforcement Act, using the penalties in Schedule A of the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159. The Noise Control Bylaw and the Fireworks bylaw also carry their own fine schedules for Offence Act tickets. Court prosecution is also available, with maximum fines set in each bylaw (for example $50,000 in the Animal Responsibility, Property Maintenance and Waterworks bylaws).

Examples

Full penalties from Schedule A:

  • Unleashed dog: $100. Unlicensed dog: $125.
  • Noise: $100.
  • Rubbish on property: $150.
  • Parked over 24 hours: $35. Meter violation: $30.
  • Garbage cart over 35 kg: $100.
  • Watering breach: $100 (Stage 1), $200 (Stage 2), $400 (Stage 4).

Good to know

  • If the City receives payment within 14 days of you receiving (or being presumed to receive) the notice, the lower early-payment amount applies (for example $75 instead of $100).
  • If paid more than 28 days after, the higher late amount applies (for example $125 instead of $100).
  • Within 14 days of receiving the notice, pay it or ask for a review. Submit the Bylaw Ticket Review Form online, by mail to 455 Wallace Street, or in person at 411 Dunsmuir Street. You may pay after 14 days but may not dispute.
  • If you disagree with the review, you can go to adjudication with an independent adjudicator, who cannot reduce the amount. If the ticket is upheld you pay an extra $25 fee and the full non-discounted amount. Paid tickets cannot be disputed.
  • The City review page counts the 14 days from when the ticket was issued; the bylaw counts from receipt, so act promptly.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Ladysmith · Parksville · Sechelt · Qualicum Beach · Gibsons · North Cowichan

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

Sources

  1. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Animal Responsibility Bylaw 2021 No. 7316 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Noise Control Bylaw 1994 No. 4750 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Dispute Parking Ticket or Bylaw Violation, City of Nanaimo (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Adjudication, City of Nanaimo (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.