# Gov Handbook: Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

> 23 answers about local government in Prince George. Hub page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/ · All answers as JSON: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/index.json · Full text: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/llms-full.txt

## Building, renovating and your property

- [Prince George building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit.md): In Prince George you need a City building permit for most construction: new homes and buildings, additions, renovations, sun decks, garages and retaining walls over 1.2 m. Fences, patios at grade and one shed under 10 m² do not. Email the completed package to Development Services at devserv@princegeorge.ca.
- [Prince George fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fence-rules.md): A fence in Prince George does not need a permit, but it must follow the Zoning Bylaw. In residential zones the limit is 1.2 m inside the required front yard and 2.0 m elsewhere (2.5 m next to agricultural, commercial or industrial land). Check with the City if your lot is rural residential.
- [Prince George permits for decks, sheds, carports and garages](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/deck-shed-garage-permit.md): In Prince George a building permit is needed for a new sun deck, a detached garage, a shed of 10 m² (108 sq ft) or more, and enclosing a carport. One shed per property under 10 m² and patios at grade are exempt. Zoning rules on size and setbacks apply either way.
- [Prince George building permit fees](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/building-permit-fees.md): A Prince George building permit costs a $100 non-refundable processing fee plus a permit fee. For commercial, institutional, industrial and multi-unit (3 or more units) work, the permit fee is $200 plus $6.50 per $1,000 of cost over $10,000. For houses the City's schedule does not show the fee; ask the City.
- [Prince George zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning-lookup.md): Type your address into PGMap, the City of Prince George's online map, to see the zoning of any property. Then read that zone's section of Zoning Bylaw 7850. For a planner's answer, send the City's Property Information Inquiry Form or call Development Services at 250-561-7611.
- [Prince George secondary suite and carriage house rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/secondary-suite.md): Yes, in most Prince George residential zones. A secondary suite is allowed in the AR, RS, RT and RM1 to RM8 zones, among others, and a carriage or cottage house in AR3, RS, RT, Z9 and Z14. You need a building permit, and a plumbing permit and water meter for a suite.
- [Prince George tree removal rules and permits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/tree-removal.md): Usually not for a tree on an ordinary Prince George lot. The City's Tree Protection Bylaw only requires a permit in the AG: Greenbelt zone and in Riparian Protection development permit areas near watercourses. Trees on City land belong to the City, and only City staff may prune or remove them.

## Garbage, recycling and waste

- [Prince George garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/garbage-collection.md): The City of Prince George collects household garbage from City-issued carts by zone. Find your zone on the map in the City's 2026-2027 collection schedule. Put the cart out before 8 a.m. on collection day (not before 4 a.m.) with the lid closed, and bring it in by 7 p.m.
- [Prince George yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/yard-waste.md): The City of Prince George does not describe any curbside yard-waste pickup. Bring leaves, grass, hedge clippings and branches up to 75 mm thick to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George's Foothills Boulevard landfill, Quinn Street depot or Vanway station. Drop-off is free.

## Water, sewer, roads and snow

- [Prince George watering restrictions](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/water-restrictions.md): Yes. Prince George's sprinkling restrictions apply every day of the year. Even house numbers sprinkle on even-numbered dates and odd house numbers on odd dates, and no one may sprinkle from 12 noon to 5 p.m. (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Western Acres). The bylaw notice is $100.

## Pets, animals and wildlife

- [Prince George dog licences: fees and how to get one](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-licence.md): Every dog over four months old in Prince George needs a City of Prince George licence. Buy it at the City Hall Service Centre or most local pet stores, and renew online. The yearly fee is $36 for a spayed or neutered dog and $81 for one that is not; service dogs are free.
- [Prince George dog leash rules and off-leash areas](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dog-leash-rules.md): In Prince George, a dog off its owner's property must be on a leash everywhere except a designated off-leash area, and owners must carry a leash at all times. The City lists seven off-leash areas, including Travers Memorial Dog Park and Bravery Park.
- [Prince George rules for aggressive and dangerous dogs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/dangerous-dogs.md): In Prince George, an Animal Control Officer decides whether a dog is aggressive or dangerous. Owners must then keep the dog confined indoors or in a locked pen, sterilize it, buy a special licence at City Hall, and muzzle it and keep it on a leash of 1 m or less in public.
- [How many dogs or cats you can keep in Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/how-many-pets.md): In Prince George you may keep no more than three dogs aged four months or older, or four if at least one is a foster dog placed by a humane society. The bylaw sets no limit on cats.

## Parking, tickets and driving

- [Prince George RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md): In Prince George no vehicle, trailers included, may stay parked on a street more than 24 hours in a row. On RS and RT residential lots you may keep no more than one recreational vehicle, one passenger bus and one trailer. Camping in an RV on a highway needs a permit.

## Bylaws, noise and complaints

- [Prince George noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/noise-rules.md): Prince George's Noise Control By-Law No. 3848 bans noise that disturbs neighbours, with no fixed quiet hours and no decibel limit. Construction or industrial work is allowed 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and an owner's own repairs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bylaw notice is $100 if paid within 30 days.
- [Prince George unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/unsightly-property.md): In Prince George, report an unsightly, overgrown or junk-filled property to Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 or bylawservices@princegeorge.ca, or through the bylaw complaint form on the City's website. The Property Maintenance Bylaw 8425 covers refuse, junk, derelict vehicles, weeds, graffiti and lawns over 10 inches.
- [Prince George backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/backyard-fire.md): In Prince George you cannot burn yard waste, leaves, branches or garbage; open burning is not allowed at any time. A small recreational fire is allowed in a fire pit no wider than 60 cm, burning only seasoned firewood, supervised, and never during an air quality advisory.
- [Prince George fireworks rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/fireworks.md): In Prince George you may set off consumer fireworks without a permit only on July 1, October 31 and December 31, and you must be 18 or older. On other days you need a consumer fireworks permit ($24 plus taxes). You may not set them off in public places without the owner's written consent.
- [Prince George bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/bylaw-fines.md): Prince George uses two ticket systems. A bylaw notice covers most bylaws, for example $250 for an unlicensed dog, $150 for a dog at large and $100 for noise, if paid within 30 days. A municipal ticket covers dangerous dogs, fire and fireworks, signs and some parking.

## Starting and running a business

- [Prince George business licences: who needs one, fees and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/business-licence.md): Yes. Anyone doing business in the City of Prince George needs a City business licence, with a separate licence for each business, trade name or premises. Apply online, pay the $100 processing fee and $25 title search fee, then the annual fee once approved. Licences expire December 31.
- [Prince George home-based business rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/home-based-business.md): Yes, in Prince George many home businesses are allowed with a City business licence, but the Zoning Bylaw sorts them into Home Business 1, 2 and 3 with limits on floor area, employees, clients and vehicles. Some uses, such as restaurants and massage services, are not allowed at home.

## Housing and renting

- [Prince George short-term rental rules (Airbnb, Vrbo)](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/short-term-rental.md): Possibly. In Prince George, B.C. limits short-term rentals to your home plus one secondary suite or accessory dwelling, and you must register with the Province ($100 a year for your home, $450 for a secondary unit). The Zoning Bylaw only provides for bed and breakfasts, which need a City licence.

## Zoning

- [All 48 zones in Prince George, as JSON](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning/index.json)
- Zone of an address: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/zoning/lookup?address=123+Main+St