Our bylaw officers enforce City bylaws that improve the quality of living in Prince George for residents and visitors alike. The most common bylaws our officers handle are ones relating to animal care and control and parking. If you feel we made an error enforcing a particular bylaw, you may dispute a ticket.
Bylaw Enforcement Hours of Operation
Disputing a Bylaw Ticket
If you receive a bylaw infraction ticket, you can either pay the fine or dispute it. You have 14 calendar days (starting from when you got the ticket) to dispute it and can no longer dispute it after the 14 days pass.
After you submit a bylaw ticket dispute and provide all the required information, a Screening Officer at the City will review the materials and, if necessary, refer it for adjudication. The adjudication system lets the City manage bylaw disputes locally instead of through the provincial court system. Violation notices can be disputed out of court with a private adjudicator appointed by the Provincial Attorney General's Office.
Dispute Procedure
Once the City's screening officer receives and reviews your dispute, one of the following outcomes occur:
- The bylaw ticket is cancelled and your dispute is successful.
- The bylaw ticket fine is reduced upon entering into a Compliance Agreement with the City.
- The bylaw ticket is upheld, at which point the dispute continues and you're given an option to request an adjudication hearing.
If you choose adjudication, you will be contacted with a date, time, and location for the hearing. The adjudicator will review the evidence at the hearing and make a decision. If the adjudicator finds an offence occurred, the bylaw ticket fine must be paid in full plus an additional $25 administrative fee. A successful dispute will result in the ticket's cancellation and no penalties.
Bylaw Complaints and Personal Information
When you file a bylaw complaint your personal information is collected under section 26(b) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. We need your information to process the complaint and for administration and enforcement. Your name and address will not be made public unless releasing that information is required for a legal action to prosecute the bylaw infraction.
Complaint submissions become part of the City's records and are subject to release under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
If you have questions about the information we collect during the bylaw complaint process, contact:
Manager of Bylaw Services
1100 Patricia Boulevard
Prince George, BC V2L 3V9
Canada
Phone: 250-561-7622
Email: bylawservices@princegeorge.ca