---
title: North Cowichan bylaw fines and how tickets work
question: "What are the common bylaw fines in North Cowichan?"
place: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/north-cowichan
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Municipality of North Cowichan
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/bylaw-fines/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/bylaw-fines.json"
---

# North Cowichan bylaw fines and how tickets work

**Question:** What are the common bylaw fines in North Cowichan?

**Short answer:** North Cowichan uses two ticket systems side by side: bylaw offence notices and municipal tickets. Common fines are $100 to $250 by bylaw notice and $100 to $500 by municipal ticket. Pay a bylaw notice within 14 days for the lower early amount.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca)  
**Cost:** Examples (bylaw notice / municipal ticket): parking an RV over 4 hours $200 / $200; no dog licence $100 / $100; dog off leash, first offence $100 / $100; noise $100 / $200; nuisance property $200 / $200; open burning without a permit $250 / $500; Stage 1 sprinkling $100 / $200. Carts out of time: $100 notice.  
**How long:** Bylaw notice: pay within 14 days for the early amount; dispute within 14 days. Municipal ticket: tell the Municipality within 14 days if you dispute it.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-746-3108
- Online: Tickets and notices, Municipality of North Cowichan, https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices

## Key facts

- **How tickets work:** Two systems. (1) Bylaw Offence Notice (BON): a less formal ticket for simple contraventions; issued by bylaw compliance officers, peace officers, animal control officers, the Municipal Forester, the Chief Building Inspector, business licence inspector and certain fire chiefs; disputes go to a Screening Officer then the Nanaimo Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Registry. (2) Municipal Ticket (MTI): resembles a provincial violation ticket, max $1,000, disputes go to Provincial Court. Serious cases can go to court under the Offence Act (up to $50,000 and 6 months).
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, ss. 4, 10, 13](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Persons acting as any of the following are designated as Bylaw Enforcement Officers" … "The Registry, with an address of 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo"
  - Source: [Tickets and notices, Municipal Ticket; Bylaw Offence Notice](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices)
  - Official wording: "A municipal ticket (MTI) resembles a provincial violation ticket" … "The penalty for a contravention enforced through a MTI may not exceed $1,000" … "A bylaw offence notice (BON) is a less formal process"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464, ss. 1, 4](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf)
  - Official wording: "may be enforced by means of a ticket"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Common fines:** Parking (RV over 4 hours etc.): $200, notice or ticket. No dog licence: $100. Dog off leash, first offence: $100. Noise: $100 notice, $200 ticket. Nuisance property: $200. Open burning without permit: $250 notice, $500 ticket. Stage 1 sprinkling: $100 notice, $200 ticket. Carts out before 5 a.m. or left after 10 p.m.: $100 notice.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Schedule A](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Fail to obtain a Dog licence $100.00 $50.00 $120.00 YES" … "2 Allow noise to cause disturbance $100 $50 $120 YES" … "4.1 Cause a nuisance $200 $100 $220 YES" … "Collection carts set out before 5 AM on collection" … "day or collection carts left at collection point after $100 $75 $125 YES"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464, Schedule 2](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Park trailer or creational vehicle on highway for more than 4 hours 7 (3) 200" … "Noise which Disturbs 2 $200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying early:** Bylaw notice: pay within 14 days of receiving it to pay the lower Early Payment Penalty in Column A2 (usually half the penalty, e.g. $50 instead of $100, $125 instead of $250; waste cart offences $75 instead of $100). Municipal ticket: no early discount found.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, s. 11(2)(a)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw" … "the applicable penalty is the Early Payment Penalty set out in Column A2"
  - Source: [Tickets and notices, Paying a BON](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices)
  - Official wording: "If paid within 14 days, some offences are eligible for early payment reductions"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Paying late:** Bylaw notice: full penalty from day 15 to 28. After 28 days the Column A3 Late Payment Penalty applies, usually penalty plus $20 ($120 for $100) but $125 for a $100 waste cart offence; unpaid notices may go to collections. Municipal ticket: unpaid tickets go to court for conviction in absence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, s. 11(2)(c)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "more than 28 days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw" … "a late payment surcharge of $20" … "day or collection carts left at collection point after $100 $75 $125 YES"
  - Source: [Tickets and notices, Failing to respond](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices)
  - Official wording: "Tickets that remain unpaid thirty (30) days after being deemed guilty will be sent to collections"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Disputing a ticket:** Bylaw notice: you have 14 days to dispute (form to Bylaw Services). A Screening Officer reviews it, may cancel it, offer a compliance agreement (penalty cut by 35%) or send it to an adjudication hearing (in person, phone/video or writing). If you lose you pay the full penalty plus a $25 adjudication fee. Municipal ticket: tell the Municipality within 14 days; a disputed ticket goes to Provincial Court.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, ss. 12, 15](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "no person may dispute the bylaw notice after 14 days of receiving it" … "must pay the Registry an adjudication fee of $25"
  - Source: [Tickets and notices, Disputing a BON; Disputing a MTI](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices)
  - Official wording: "You have 14 days to dispute a BON" … "You have 14 days to notify North Cowichan that you wish to dispute the ticket"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021 (consolidated to April 15, 2026) and Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464 (consolidated to April 15, 2026).
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, s. 1](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464, title](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf)
  - Official wording: "MUNICIPAL TICKET INFORMATION SYSTEM" … "Bylaw 3464"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

North Cowichan has two ticket systems, and both are normal.

- **Bylaw Offence Notice (BON):** a less formal ticket for simple contraventions, issued by bylaw compliance officers, peace officers, animal control officers and certain other officials. Under the [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw](<https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf>), disputes go to a Screening Officer and then the Nanaimo Bylaw Dispute Adjudication Registry.
- **Municipal Ticket (MTI):** resembles a provincial violation ticket, with a maximum of $1,000 under the [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw](<https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf>). Disputes go to Provincial Court.

Serious cases can go to court under the Offence Act (up to $50,000 and 6 months).

## Common fines (bylaw notice / municipal ticket)

- Parking an RV over 4 hours and similar: $200 / $200
- No dog licence: $100 / $100
- Dog off leash, first offence: $100 / $100
- Noise: $100 / $200
- Nuisance property: $200 / $200
- Open burning without a permit: $250 / $500 (the burning web page gives escalating amounts; confirm)
- Stage 1 sprinkling: $100 / $200
- Carts out before 5 a.m. or left after 10 p.m.: $100 notice

## Steps

1. Bylaw notice: pay within 14 days to pay the lower early amount (usually half, for example $50 instead of $100; waste cart offences $75 instead of $100).
2. Days 15 to 28: the full penalty. After 28 days the late amount applies, usually the penalty plus $20, but $125 for a $100 waste cart offence. Unpaid notices may go to collections.
3. To dispute a bylaw notice, send the form to Bylaw Services within 14 days. A Screening Officer may cancel it, offer a compliance agreement (penalty cut by 35%) or send it to an adjudication hearing (in person, phone/video or writing). If you lose, you pay the full penalty plus a $25 adjudication fee.
4. Municipal ticket: tell the Municipality within 14 days if you dispute it. A disputed ticket goes to Provincial Court.

## Good to know

- No early-payment discount was found for municipal tickets. Unpaid tickets go to court for conviction in absence.
- Each topic's answer gives the detail for its own fines.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf)

## Related questions

- [North Cowichan noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/noise-rules.md)
- [North Cowichan fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/fireworks.md)
- [North Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-fire.md)
- [North Cowichan unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/unsightly-property.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)
- [Duncan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/duncan/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/bylaw-fines.md)
- [North Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-saanich/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Sidney](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sidney/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Highlands](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)

## Sources

- [Tickets and notices, Municipality of North Cowichan](https://www.northcowichan.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/tickets-notices) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2023-10/Bylaw%20Offence%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%2C%20No.%203677%2C%202021.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 3464 (PDF)](https://www.northcowichan.ca/sites/default/files/2025-05/Municipal%20Ticket%20Information%20System.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Municipality of North Cowichan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/bylaw-fines/_