Squamish bylaw fines and how tickets work

What are the common bylaw fines in Squamish?

Squamish, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-09

Short answer

Return Squamish’s bylaw notice dispute form within 14 days to ask for review. A screening officer will contact you. If an adjudicator upholds the contravention, $25 is added to the penalty.

Key facts

How tickets work	Bylaw notices carry penalties up to $500. A District screening officer reviews a dispute before it goes to an independent adjudicator. Hearings may be held by phone, in writing or in person.Bylaw Adjudication Process - District of Squamish - Hardwired for Adventure, Bylaw adjudication process, scope and screening · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording The District of Squamish has a bylaw fine dispute system that allows for the majority of bylaw fines to be disputed through an independent adjudication system at the local level rather than through the B.C. Provincial Court system. The Bylaw Noticing and Adjudication Process aligns the District’s dispute process with successful best practices in neighbouring municipalities North Vancouver and Whistler, among others. ### How it works Bylaw Notices are tickets issued by Bylaw Officers, Animal Control Officers, Building Inspectors, Fire Inspectors or Fire Chief, RCMP Officers, Conservation Officers and other designated District staff and external agencies. They carry a maximum fine of $500. If disputed, they are adjudicated locally by an adjudicator appointed by the Provincial Ministry of Justice. Other enforcement tools such as Municipal Ticket Information and Long Form Charges involve appearances in BC Provincial court and carry higher penalties. Disputes are reviewed by a District of Squamish Screening Officer before being referred to an independent adjudicator, and can be facilitated by telephone, in writing or in person. The adjudicator is a professional person with no affiliation to the District, who can resolve disputes in an unbiased manner.
Common fines	Excess dogs cost $300 ($270 within 14 days, $330 after 28 days). Excess cats cost $200 ($180 early, $220 late).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015, Section 5 and Animal Control schedule, sections 26 and 31 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording (b) if received by the District within fourteen (14) days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty set out in Column 2 opposite the contravention; (c) if more than twenty-eight (28) days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the late penalty set out in Column 3 opposite the contravention; or 26 Excess dogs on property $300 $270 $330 No 31 Excess cats on property $200 $180 $220 No
Paying early	The District must receive payment within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt of the notice for the discounted amount in column 2.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015, Section 5(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording 5. The penalty for a contravention referred to in Section 4 is established in the attached schedules as follows (amended as per bylaw 2714 and 3146): (a) subject to paragraphs (b) to (d), the penalty set out in Column 1 opposite the contravention; (b) if received by the District within fourteen (14) days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the discounted penalty set out in Column 2 opposite the contravention;
Paying late	After 28 days from receipt or presumed receipt, the late amount in column 3 applies.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015, Section 5(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording (c) if more than twenty-eight (28) days after the person received or is presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the late penalty set out in Column 3 opposite the contravention; or
Disputing a ticket	Return Squamish’s bylaw notice dispute form within 14 days to ask for review.Bylaw Notice Dispute Form, PDF p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording If you wish to dispute a bylaw notice, complete this DISPUTE FORM and return it within 14 days to the District of Squamish. A
Bylaw	Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015, Sections 1 and 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 Official wording 1. This Bylaw may be cited as the “Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015”. Bylaw Contraventions 4. The bylaw contraventions designated in the attached Schedules of this Bylaw may be dealt with by bylaw notice. (amended as per bylaw 2714 and 3146)

How it works

Start with the document you received. Its title, the cited section and the issuing body identify which payment and dispute instructions to follow. A fine listed for another offence is a poor guide to the amount on your own notice. Bylaw notices carry penalties up to $500. A District screening officer reviews a dispute before it goes to an independent adjudicator. Hearings may be held by phone, in writing or in person.

Steps

Compare the document you received with Bylaw Notice Dispute Form (PDF). Find the offence description, issue or service date, amount and reference number on the document. Compare them with the corresponding row of the ticket schedule.
Check the instructions for payment or dispute before the relevant deadline. When paying or contacting the office, use the reference number from that notice.

Good to know

Excess dogs cost $300 ($270 within 14 days, $330 after 28 days). Excess cats cost $200 ($180 early, $220 late).
The District must receive payment within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt of the notice for the discounted amount in column 2.
After 28 days from receipt or presumed receipt, the late amount in column 3 applies.
Keep the receipt or a copy of a dispute submission. If more than one notice was issued, keep track of the dates and amounts for each separately.
Read the applicable provisions in Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2418, 2015 (PDF).