Bylaw Enforcement

Payment must be received within the 14 days from the date of the ticket to receive the discounted amount.No exceptions will be made.

PAY BY MAIL.
Cheque or Money Order Only.
District of Lake Country, 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1.
Do not send cash through the mail. Postmarks are accepted as date of payment.

PAY IN PERSON. 
Municipal Hall, 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country
Debit , cash, cheque, Visa or Mastercard 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. 
For afterhours payment, drop boxes are located at the front entrance. 

PAY BY PHONE.
Call the Customer Service Centre at 250-766-5650 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. 
Leaving a message for the Bylaw Department will not be considered payment. Payments must be made through the Customer Service Centre, not the Bylaw Department. 

Payment Terms

• If paid within 14 days, a discount will apply.
• If unpaid or has not been disputed after 14 days, the opportunity to dispute is lost and the full penalty is due.
• If unpaid after 28 days a late penalty is applied.
• A reminder letter will be sent providing a final opportunity to pay.
• If penalty remains unpaid, the amount owning may be forwarded to collections or court action.

Report a Problem

Online or call 250-766-6673

FOR FIRE ARMS, PUBLIC SAFETY, EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR AFTER HOURS CALL 9-1-1

Bylaw Enforcement Hours

• September to June: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm (excluding statutory holidays)
• June to September: 7 days a week 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (excluding statutory holidays)

Spion Kop

• Provincial land
• Contact conservation officer at 1-877-952-7277
• #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network
• online form https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/

Wildlife

• Conservation Officer Service 1-877-952-7277.
• View reports at Wildlife Alert Reporting Program.

Weeds

• Covered by Regional District of Central Okanagan Bylaw No. 179
• Requires property owners to prevent the growth and provide cutting.
• Must be under 8 inches in height.
• Must be cut down, mulched, or destroyed and removed.
• Submit complaints using RDCO Service Complaint Form

Bylaw Enforcement Policy

• Bylaw Enforcement Policy 187
• Enforcement is complaint based except for projects authorized by Council or the CAO.
• Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
• All reasonable attempts are made to notify residents when entering a property although the Community Charter authorizes entry for the purposes of bylaw enforcement.

How do I dispute my ticket? 

A request to dispute must include the reverse of the ticket and your reasons for disputing the ticket. 

A request to dispute must be received within 14 days from the date of the ticket. 

Once a dispute has been requested, the early payment option is no longer available. 

1. Fill out the reverse of your ticket (or this form) and email it to screeningofficer@lakecountry.bc.ca or deliver it to Municipal Hall. 
2. The Screening Officer reviews the reasons for dispute and makes a decision to CANCEL or UPHOLD the ticket. The Screening Officer cannot cancel a ticket at their sole discretion, they must make the decision based on Screening Officer Policy 10.112.
3. If the ticket is upheld, the disputant can pay the penalty or, within 14 days, request Dispute Adjudication (see below for more information).

Dispute Adjudication Process

• Dispute adjudication allows disputes to be heard at a local level rather than at the provincial courts.
• Where the Screening Officer has UPHELD the dispute, you can request the decision be considered by an independent adjudicator at Dispute Adjudication.
• The request to proceed to Dispute Adjudication must be received within 14 days from the date of receiving the response to the Dispute.
• An additional $25 fee applies IF the dispute is unsuccessful, if the person disputing fails to appear or if the hearing has been scheduled and the person disputing decides not to proceed (Bylaw 760 s9).
• Once the Screening Officer has been notified you wish to proceed to Dispute Adjudication, you may submit additional evidence such as statements, pictures etc. This is optional and should be sent to screeningofficer@lakecountry.bc.ca. Evidence must be credible, trustworthy and relevant to the dispute. A Disclosure Package with all relevant information will be circulated to all parties prior to the hearing. The standard of proof for adjudication purposes is balance of probabilities.
• Adjudication Hearings are held once a month at either the City of Kelowna Council Chambers, 1435 Water Street or the City of Vernon Council Chambers, 3400 30th Street. The Dispute Coordinator will send you a Notice of Adjudication (NOA) confirming the date and time of the hearing. The Dispute Coordinator coordinates the hearing schedule and does not have any input on the dispute. 
• At the hearing, each party will have an opportunity to present, either in writing, in person or by phone (BNEA s.18)) and answer questions from the adjudicator. The parties do not debate or ask questions of each other. The adjudicator makes a final decision which cannot be appealed or reviewed in the courts.
• Hearings are open to the public. 
• Failure to appear in person, by writing or by phone results in the ticket being immediately due (BNEA s 18.4).
• If a dispute is successful, the penalty is cancelled and no fees are due.
• If a dispute is unsuccessful the penalty plus the $25 fee is due immediately.
• If the outstanding amount is not paid within 14 days of the decision the late penalty will apply and outstanding amounts will be forwarded to collections.

What happens if I forget to pay my ticket? 

If your ticket remains unpaid after 28 days, the late penalty is applied. If the ticket remains unpaid after the final notice is delivered, it may be sent to collections for further action. 

What if I did not receive a ticket and find out about the alleged offence after the 14 day dispute period?

If you advise the Bylaw Officer within 21 days of the date of the ticket, that you did not receive the original, a new ticket may be issued and the dispute period extended for an additional 14 days.