Bylaws & Enforcement

Township bylaw approach

Respecting the rights of our neighbours and preserving the quality of life in our community are important aspects of community living. The goal of the Township of Esquimalt’s Bylaw Enforcement program is not to penalize residents but rather to achieve voluntary compliance through increased public education and awareness of our regulations and the rationale for them.

While certain areas of enforcement are health and safety related that require proactive enforcement, the majority of regulations are enforced on a complaint only basis. The Bylaw Officer may investigate written complaints received from the public about alleged violations of various municipal bylaws and regulations such as property maintenance, excessive noise, snow/ice removal, land use and building issues.

Some complaints may be considered either as a civil dispute between property owners, such as fences, or as a minor non-enforceable issue, such as trees overgrowing property lines. These will not be acted upon by the Township.

How to make a bylaw complaint

Bylaw complaints need to be submitted in writing. To make a written complaint regarding a violation of regulations contained in one the Township of Esquimalt bylaws, the Township requires you to provide your name, address, daytime telephone number, email address if applicable, as well as the details of your complaint.

Make a bylaw complaint

Bylaw enforcement

Download frequently used bylaws.
Ticketable offences and fines are listed in the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw

Considerations before submitting a bylaw complaint

Bylaw complaint information is considered confidential and will not be released, except as may be required under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or otherwise as required by law. The Township may require you to act as a witness, should a bylaw complaint case proceed to court if an infraction cannot otherwise be resolved.

Often complaints can be resolved amicably between neighbours. It is recommended that whenever possible, residents attempt to resolve their issues before contacting the Bylaw Officer for assistance.

Disputing a Ticket

If you feel you have received a ticket in error, you can:

Request a review of your parking ticket online by completing the Bylaw Ticket Review Form or
Fill out a form in person by visiting the Municipal Hall at 1229 Esquimalt Road on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Please note ticket reviews cannot be made over the phone. Paid tickets will not be reversed.

Adjudication

If you disagree with the outcome of the Township’s review of your disputed ticket, you can proceed to adjudication by contacting bylaw@esquimalt.ca. Learn more about the adjudication process.

Changes to bylaw enforcement and payments in Esquimalt

The Township of Esquimalt is updating its bylaw process for the first time since 2014. Council adopted changes to Esquimalt’s Bylaw Offence Notice (BON) penalties and related bylaws and policies at the September 14 meeting.

The updates include fee changes for a range of bylaw offences, including parking, building and zoning, illegal dumping, property maintenance and other violations. The changes bring Esquimalt’s penalties closer to the regional average and better align the Township with neighbouring municipalities. Learn more.

Why is this changing?

The Township of Esquimalt’s Bylaw Offence Notice (BON) penalties have largely not been updated since the system was adopted in 2014.
As a result, current penalties no longer reflect enforcement needs, community expectations, accessibility requirements, or regional norms.
These changes strike a balance of incentivizing payment while providing the public with more opportunity to pay a reduced fee.

What are the impacts?

The Township’s approach to bylaw enforcement is grounded in achieving voluntary compliance rather than penalization—this has not changed. These updates will support compliance, improve payment rates, and encourage responsible behaviour, rather than rely solely on punitive measures.

What is the impact to the township?

Parking offences account for 95% of BON ticket volume taking up time and staff resources to investigate and issue the tickets. Reducing the number infractions will free up staff time for other work.

Is this meant to generate money for the township?

The purpose of BON penalties is to support compliance by deterring unwanted behaviour, not to generate revenue. Experience from other municipalities indicates that when penalties are updated to modern levels, ticket volumes often decrease because compliance improves, meaning that higher penalties do not necessarily result in higher revenue.

How does this compare to other municipalities?

Currently, Esquimalt’s fees are the lowest compared to nearby municipalities. These changes bring fees in line with other municipalities.

What if I already owe money for a ticket?

Existing tickets will remain at the same rate as written on the ticket. Read more about how to pay your fines.

Can I pay online?

Staff are in the process of implementing an online payment system and is expecting it to be available in the fall.

Animal Control

Animal control services for Esquimalt are provided, by contract, through Victoria Animal Control Services. Please call 250-414-0233 or email: vacs@shaw.ca regarding dogs at large, dangerous dogs, stray cats, bees and other animal concerns.