Vancouver bylaw fines and how tickets work
What are the common bylaw fines in Vancouver?
Short answer
For a Vancouver bylaw notice, pay or request dispute adjudication within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt. Follow the instructions printed on the notice. The bylaw describes when mailed notices and notices left on vehicles count as received.
Key facts
| How tickets work | The City can deliver a bylaw notice personally or by mail, and can leave a parking notice on a vehicle. A mailed notice is presumed received on the seventh day after mailing. Pay or request adjudication within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt.By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, Sections 3 and 5.1–5.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording3. The by-laws and by-law contraventions designated in Schedule “A” may be enforced by by-law notice. 5.1 A by-law notice may be delivered: (a) in person to the named person, (b) by mailing a copy of the by-law notice, (i) if the by-law notice is in respect of a contravention involving a vehicle, to the address for each registered owner of the vehicle involved; (ii) to the actual or last known address of the named person; or (iii) if the named person is a corporation or a business, to the registered office or head office, (c) if the by-law notice is in respect of a parking contravention, by leaving the by-law notice on the vehicle involved.- 3 - Deemed receipt by mail 5.2 A by-law notice delivered under subsection 5.1(b) is presumed to have been received by the person to whom it is addressed on the 7th day after mailing. Deemed receipt on vehicle 5.3 A by-law notice delivered under subsection 5.1(c) is presumed to have been received by each registered owner of the vehicle on the day it is left on the vehicle. Dispute or pay within 14 days 5.4 A person who receives a by-law notice, or their authorized agent, must, within 14 days of the date on which the person received or is presumed to have received the by-law notice: (a) pay the penalty; or (b) request dispute adjudication; by following the appropriate instructions on the by-law notice. |
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| Common fines | Expired meter time costs $77 ($46 with the discount, $117 with the surcharge). Idling more than three minutes costs $100 ($60 with the discount, $150 with the surcharge).By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, PDF p. 5 / PDF p. 10 / PDF p. 14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording4. The penalty for a contravention referred to in section 3 is: (a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the penalty amount set out in column A1 of Schedule “A”; (b) if payment is received by the city within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the by-law notice, the penalty set out in column A1 is reduced by the discount amount set out in column A2 of Schedule “A”; or (c) if payment is received by the city more than 21 days after the penalty set out in column A1 becomes due and payable under the Act, the penalty set out in column A1 is increased by the surcharge set out in column A3 of Schedule “A”. By-law Section Description Penalty Discount Surcharge 5(4)(b) Expired meter time 77 31 40 2.7 (i) Idle more than 3 minutes 100 40 50 |
| Paying early | Pay within 14 days of receiving or being presumed to receive the notice to receive the discount for the offence.By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, PDF p. 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording4. The penalty for a contravention referred to in section 3 is: (a) subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), the penalty amount set out in column A1 of Schedule “A”; (b) if payment is received by the city within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the by-law notice, the penalty set out in column A1 is reduced by the discount amount set out in column A2 of Schedule “A”; or |
| Paying late | The scheduled surcharge applies if the City receives payment more than 21 days after the penalty becomes due and payable.By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, PDF p. 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wording(c) if payment is received by the city more than 21 days after the penalty set out in column A1 becomes due and payable under the Act, the penalty set out in column A1 is increased by the surcharge set out in column A3 of Schedule “A”. |
| Disputing a ticket | For a Vancouver bylaw notice, pay or request dispute adjudication within 14 days of receipt or presumed receipt.By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, PDF p. 6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingDispute or pay within 14 days 5.4 A person who receives a by-law notice, or their authorized agent, must, within 14 days of the date on which the person received or is presumed to have received the by-law notice: (a) pay the penalty; or (b) request dispute adjudication; by following the appropriate instructions on the by-law notice. |
| Bylaw | By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201, PDF p. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09Official wordingBY-LAW NOTICE ENFORCEMENT BY-LAW NO. 10201 |
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. The City can deliver a bylaw notice personally or by mail, and can leave a parking notice on a vehicle. A mailed notice is presumed received on the seventh day after mailing.
Steps
- Compare the document you received with By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201 (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
- Expired meter time costs $77 ($46 with the discount, $117 with the surcharge). Idling more than three minutes costs $100 ($60 with the discount, $150 with the surcharge).
- Pay within 14 days of receiving or being presumed to receive the notice to receive the discount for the offence.
- The scheduled surcharge applies if the City receives payment more than 21 days after the penalty becomes due and payable.
- The City’s schedule lists a $77 standard penalty for expired meter time.
The same question in other places
Richmond · Burnaby · North Vancouver · District of North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta
Bylaw tickets in British Columbia: early payment, late payment and disputes by municipality →
Sources
- By-law Notice Enforcement By-law No. 10201 (PDF) (read 2026-11-09)
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.