# Gov Handbook: North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada

> 24 answers about local government in North Cowichan. Hub page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/ · All answers as JSON: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/index.json · Full text: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/llms-full.txt

## Building, renovating and your property

- [North Cowichan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit.md): In North Cowichan you need a building permit before you build, alter or reconstruct a building or structure, or do plumbing. Demolishing and moving a building need separate permits. A one-storey accessory building of 10 m² or less is exempt. Apply by email to Building Services.
- [North Cowichan fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/fence-rules.md): North Cowichan's Zoning Bylaw sets fence heights by zone. In most residential zones the limit is 1.2 m in the front yard and 2.0 m in side and rear yards. The sources we read do not say whether a fence needs a building permit, so ask Building Services.
- [North Cowichan permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/deck-shed-garage-permit.md): In North Cowichan a one-storey shed or accessory building of 10 m² or less needs no building permit. A deck needs one unless it is on grade and under 0.61 m (2 ft) high. A detached garage or larger accessory building needs a permit. Zoning setbacks apply either way.
- [North Cowichan building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/building-permit-fees.md): In North Cowichan a building permit costs $150 for work valued up to $5,000. Above that it is $150 plus 1% of the construction value. The fee is paid after the permit is approved, when the Municipality sends a fee slip.
- [North Cowichan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/zoning-lookup.md): In North Cowichan, type your address into the Municipality's Interactive GIS Map and click inside your property boundary to see its zone. The rules for each zone are in Zoning Bylaw 1997, No. 2950. PDF zoning maps are also on the Municipality's website. Planning can help.
- [North Cowichan secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/secondary-suite.md): In North Cowichan a secondary suite is allowed in certain zones (including R1-U, R2, R3 and A4), and a detached accessory dwelling unit in R1-U, R2, R3 and some comprehensive zones. A suite needs a building permit and one off-street parking space. Check your zone first.
- [North Cowichan tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/tree-removal.md): North Cowichan has no general permit for cutting trees on private land. But in development permit areas (near streams, shorelines and habitat, on slopes over 20%, high wildfire hazard areas and floodplains) you need a development permit to disturb vegetation. Ask Planning first.

## Garbage, recycling and waste

- [North Cowichan garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/garbage-collection.md): North Cowichan collects organics every week and garbage and recycling on alternate weeks, for single-family homes. Enter your address in the Curbside schedules calendar tool or use the MNC Curbside app to find your day. Carts go out between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and must be in by 10 p.m.
- [North Cowichan yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/yard-waste.md): In North Cowichan, yard and garden waste goes in the green organics cart, collected every week. Larger branches go to a Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD) depot, which takes residential yard waste free: Bings Creek (3900 Drinkwater Road) or Peerless Road in Ladysmith.

## Water, sewer, roads and snow

- [North Cowichan watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/water-restrictions.md): In North Cowichan, Stage 1 watering restrictions apply every year from May 1 through October 31. Sprinklers run up to 2 hours a day on two days a week, by address, and no outdoor watering is allowed between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Check the Water Conservation page for the current stage.

## Pets, animals and wildlife

- [North Cowichan dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dog-licence.md): In North Cowichan, every dog over 4 months old needs a licence each year. It costs $35 if bought in January or February and $45 after that. There is no lower rate for spayed or neutered dogs.
- [North Cowichan dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dog-leash-rules.md): In North Cowichan, a dog in any public place must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet (1.83 m). Dogs may be off leash only in the designated off-leash areas, under voice or hand-command control. A first off-leash offence is $100.
- [North Cowichan rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/dangerous-dogs.md): In North Cowichan, a dog that has attacked or bitten someone, or shown a tendency to, can be declared an aggressive dog by the Poundkeeper (Coastal Animal Services). The owner must then license it as aggressive ($100 a year), muzzle and leash it off the property, and keep it in a secure pen.
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in North Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/how-many-pets.md): In North Cowichan you can keep no more than 3 dogs over 8 weeks old and 5 cats over 12 weeks old, and no more than 6 companion animals in all. More than 3 dogs, or boarding dogs for profit, needs a kennel licence.
- [North Cowichan backyard chickens, bees and livestock rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-chickens.md): In North Cowichan, poultry is allowed on lots over 8,000 m² (1.98 acres). On lots over 1,675 m² and under 8,000 m², you can keep no more than 12 rabbits or poultry in total. No permit was found, and coops must be 15 m from every lot line.

## Parking, tickets and driving

- [North Cowichan RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md): In North Cowichan, a trailer or RV may not be parked on a public road for more than 4 hours, and no vehicle may stay parked on a road longer than 24 hours. The sources we read do not state a rule for keeping an RV, boat or trailer on your own lot.

## Bylaws, noise and complaints

- [North Cowichan noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/noise-rules.md): North Cowichan's Noise Bylaw bans noise that disturbs the neighbourhood at any hour, and has no fixed quiet hours or decibel limits. Construction is banned when it disturbs before 7:00 a.m. or after 8:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and before 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
- [North Cowichan unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/unsightly-property.md): In North Cowichan, report an unsightly or overgrown property to Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108, by email, or through the online violation form. You must give your name and contact details, because anonymous complaints are not considered.
- [North Cowichan backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/backyard-fire.md): In North Cowichan, a campfire in a proper fire pit needs no permit, but burning yard waste needs a free Open Burning Permit. It is allowed only March 15 to April 15 and September 15 to November 30, and not on lots of 2 acres or less inside the Urban Containment Boundary.
- [North Cowichan fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/fireworks.md): In North Cowichan, you need a Fireworks Permit to buy, hold, store or set off any fireworks, so residents cannot set off consumer fireworks without one. Applicants must be 18 or older. Firecrackers are banned outright, and selling fireworks is not allowed.
- [North Cowichan bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/bylaw-fines.md): 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.

## Starting and running a business

- [North Cowichan business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/business-licence.md): Yes. Anyone carrying on a business in North Cowichan, resident or not, needs a valid licence for each place the business operates from. The application fee is $100. Email the form to licensing@northcowichan.ca or apply at Municipal Hall.
- [North Cowichan home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/home-based-business.md): In North Cowichan you can run a home-based business in zones including A1, A2, A3, A5, R1, R1-U, R2 and R3, but only certain business types, and you need a business licence. It must be accessory to the home, run by the resident plus at most one non-resident employee.

## Housing and renting

- [North Cowichan short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/short-term-rental.md): In North Cowichan you can run a short-term rental (under 90 consecutive days) only in your primary residence, in zones the Municipality lists. You need a North Cowichan business licence ($100 a year) and must register with the Province through its STR portal.

## Zoning

- [All 39 zones in North Cowichan, as JSON](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/zoning/index.json)
- Zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-cowichan/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St