Bylaws can be different in every community. One local government may have bylaws banning or regulating certain things, but another may not. Some common concerns are:
The Building Bylaw outlines various requirements for constructing, demolishing, altering and moving buildings.
For more information, visit Building Permits.
The Zoning Bylaw sets out zoning regulations specifying what kind of land uses are allowed in a zone. These may include:
- restrictions on the type of businesses allowed
- how close buildings or structures can be built to lakes or streams
- how large buildings or structures can be and what they can be used for
For more information, visit the Zoning and Land Use section.
The Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw [PDF/236KB] prohibits people who own or occupy properties from allowing them to become or remain unsightly. Some examples of unsightly properties include:
- more than two derelict vehicles
- a vehicle is considered derelict if it is wrecked, cannot move under its own power, or it does not have a valid licence plate
- unless they are for a legal vehicle-related business or the vehicles are inside a fully enclosed building or compound so that they cannot be seen by persons outside
- an accumulation of trash
The Regional District does not have bylaws regulating weeds or grasses and does not investigate or act on complaints about noxious weeds, grasses or vegetation that is overgrown. For information on preventing and eliminating noxious weeds or invasive plants, contact Northwest Invasive Plants Council.
The Special Events Bylaw requires a special event permit for any event reasonably expected to have more than 1,000 attendees. The permit fee is $200 and the application must be submitted at least 180 days before the event.
For more information, contact the Regional District's Development Services department at 250-960-4400 (toll-free 1-800-667-1959) or email developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca.
Event planners should be aware that other agencies may have regulations that apply to events, regardless of the number of attendees, including the Agricultural Land Commission and Northern Health.
The Regional District does not have bylaws regulating noise (except for the Boating Noise Control Bylaw for motorboat noise on certain lakes). In most cases, the Regional District is unable to investigate or respond to noise concerns.
If there is ongoing noise that cannot be resolved with the property owner, consider consulting a lawyer to determine if there are grounds for a private lawsuit.
Illegal dumping can be reported to the Province of BC's Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) hotline at 1-877-952-RAPP.
The Regional District does not have an animal control service or animal control bylaws and does not deal with complaints about animal behaviour which includes, but is not limited to, dogs that are:
- barking or noisy
- loose or unleashed
- neglected or stray
- injured
- impounded
- attacking or aggressive
- kept outside without appropriate shelter
Local police have the authority under provincial legislation to take action on a “dangerous dog” (as defined by the law, see Section 49 of the Community Charter).
If a dog attack on a person or animal is in progress, call 9-1-1. In a case with no immediate danger, call the local police's non-emergency line to report the dangerous dog. Dogs harassing wildlife can also be reported to the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-RAPP.
If a person, animal or property is harmed by a dog, the Regional District has no legal authority to require compensation. A lawyer can be consulted to determine if there are grounds for a private lawsuit.
If there is an animal being abused or neglected, contact the SPCA at 1-855-622-7722.
If there are concerns about building on or too close to property belonging to someone else, the first step is to consider verifying the property line by hiring a surveyor. The Regional District does not have the ability to conduct legal surveys.
If something is built or placed on property without permission, it is trespassing. The Regional District does not have bylaws that deal with trespassing and cannot impose penalties if someone trespasses on property, or force them to remove fences, buildings or other items wrongfully placed.
The Zoning Bylaw establishes minimum distances for placing buildings and other things near property lines. These setback requirements vary depending on the property zone. Whenever someone builds on a property, it is their responsibility to meet applicable setback requirements.
The authority for protecting the environment rests with other government agencies. For example, many regulations prohibiting pollution of the environment are under the jurisdiction of the Province of BC. Violations can be reported at 1-877-952-RAPP.
The Regional District has the authority to protect lakes in designated Development Permit Areas. Anyone who wishes to perform land development (building, excavating, removing trees, etc.) within these areas must first get a development permit. This development permit is in addition to any other permits they may need, like a building permit. Development permit applications are reviewed by the Regional District to ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect the natural environment.
The penalty for breaking a bylaw depends on the circumstances. The maximum fine in BC for breaking a Regional District bylaw is $2,000 per offence per day.
Contact Bylaw Enforcement for further information.