Bylaw Adjudication
The Upper Fraser Valley Bylaw Adjudication System (the "System") is a partnership between seven local governments: the City of Chilliwack, Cultus Lake, District of Kent, District of Hope, Village of Harrison Hot Springs, Fraser Valley Regional District and the City of Mission. The province of BC authorizes the system to operate as a municipal bylaw court to resolve disputes in bylaw enforcement matters for these seven local governments. Offences enforced through the System may have penalties of not more than $500 for each offence.
While there is one combined system for all seven participating local governments, each maintains its own bylaws, penalties, and policies regarding compliance with the bylaws. The objective of the bylaw adjudication process is to obtain compliance with the bylaws—punishment is never the primary objective.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have received a Bylaw Offence Notice (ticket) - what are my options?
You have two options when you receive a ticket:
- Pay the penalty.
- Dispute the ticket.
How can I pay my ticket?
You can pay your ticket using the following methods:
In Person
Pay in person with cash, cheque, Interac, money order or credit card at the following locations:
- City of Chilliwack - 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack BC
- Cultus Lake - 3405 Columbia Highway, Cultus Lake BC
- District of Kent - 7170 Cheam Avenue, Agassiz BC
- City of Mission – 8645 Stave Lake Street, Mission BC
- Fraser Valley Regional District - 45950 Cheam Avenue, Chilliwack BC
- Village of Harrison Hot Springs - 495 Hot Springs Road, Harrison Hot Springs BC
- District of Hope - 325 Wallace Street, Hope BC
By Mail
Cheque or money order mailed to:
City of Chilliwack
8550 Young Road
Chilliwack,BC V2P 8A4
If paying by cheque or money order, please attach a copy of the ticket with your payment and make it payable to the 'Upper Fraser Valley Adjudication System.'
By Phone
Pay with a credit card by calling (604) 793-2743 or 1-888-793-2744
Payment Terms
The penalty will be reduced if the ticket is paid within 14 days of issuance.
If the ticket is not paid and disputed or an Adjudication Hearing is not requested after 14 days, the penalty will immediately become due and payable. After 14 days, the opportunity to dispute the ticket is lost.
If the ticket is not paid within 28 days, a surcharge will be added to the penalty.
If the ticket has not been paid or a request for an Adjudication Hearing is made after 28 days, a letter is sent providing a final opportunity to settle the matter. If payment is still not received after an additional 28 days, the ticket may be forwarded to our collection agent and/or court action may be taken.
How do I dispute my ticket?
A person who receives a Bylaw Offence Notice (ticket) must dispute their ticket within 14 days of the date they received the ticket or are presumed to have received it.
The following procedures outline how to dispute your ticket:
1. Complete the back of the ticket with your relevant contact information.
2. The ticket must then be dropped off at the City of Chilliwack, located at 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC, or at one of the other participating local governments, as listed above.
3. You can also dispute your ticket by email:
Please email the front and the back of the ticket to [email protected]
What happens when I dispute my ticket?
When you dispute your ticket, the participating local government will forward a report of the incident to the Screening Officer. The Screening Officer serves independently of the local governments in an attempt to resolve disputes. When the screening officer receives the report, you will be contacted to present your side of the incident. At this time, the Screening Officer will seek to resolve the dispute with you.
When the Screening Officer contacts you, they will be seeking to discuss the following:
- Information concerning the incident that constituted a Bylaw Offence Notice (ticket).
- The specific bylaw and its provision(s) that were allegedly contravened.
- The facts on which the contravention allegation is based.
- The fine for the infraction.
- The opportunity to enter into a Compliance Agreement - to establish terms and conditions for compliance that the Screening Officer considers necessary or advisable, including periods for payment, amendment of the notice or forgiving of the offence.
When the Screening Officer is unsuccessful in resolving the dispute, a Bylaw Adjudication Hearing may be requested.
If you choose the option for your bylaw notice to proceed to adjudication, you will lose the early payment discount.
If the adjudicator upholds the bylaw notice, you will be charged a $25 administration fee in addition to the bylaw notice penalty.
What is a Bylaw Adjudication Hearing?
A Bylaw Adjudication Hearing is similar to a court hearing, allowing individuals to have their disputed ticket heard by an independent Adjudicator. The Attorney General’s Office of the Province of BC provides the Adjudicator to the Bylaw Adjudication System. Adjudicators only have the authority to consider the offence based on the evidence presented.
The Bylaw Adjudication System is designed so that a lawyer's representation is unnecessary, but you may choose to have a lawyer present if you wish. Upon hearing the evidence, the Adjudicator will render a decision as to whether the offence did or did not take place. The Adjudicator is not at liberty to modify the offence or the penalty.
If the Adjudicator finds that the contravention did occur, a $25.00 Adjudication fee is added to the penalty, which becomes payable immediately.
If the Adjudicator decides that the offence did not take place, the ticket and all associated charges are cancelled.
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the Bylaw Adjudication System Registry at (604) 793-2743 or visit the City of Chilliwack, located at 8550 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC.