Community Safety and Bylaw Services

Common examples of activities or issues that are regulated by City bylaws include:

• property conditions, including graffiti
• excessive noise
• signs (unauthorized placement/construction)
• business licensing
• zoning (property use)
• building (construction, electrical and plumbing safety)
• vehicles for hire (sightseeing vehicles)
• snow and ice removal
• obstructions on streets or sidewalks
• witnessed disposal of litter on public space with suspect information
• use of parks and other public spaces
• stormwater management
• use of pesticides
• protection of significant trees
• operation of bicycles and other human powered devices
• street entertaining and street vending

If you come across a problem in your neighbourhood, we encourage you to report the issue to the City. 

For parking-related infractions:

• phone 250.361.0260
• email parkingservices@victoria.ca

For street and traffic-related infractions:

• phone 250.361.0300
• email eng@victoria.ca

For uninsured or abandoned vehicles, contact Victoria Police Service's non-emergency number at 250.995.7654.

If you are not sure, please call 250.385.5711. A customer service centre representative will direct your call to the appropriate department.

Bylaws go through three readings before they are adopted by a municipal council or regional district board. During those three readings, the bylaw can be changed at any time. Once a bylaw is adopted, it can only be changed or repealed through a new bylaw.

Learn more about the bylaw adoption process.

Municipal bylaws are enforced by the City's bylaw officers. To achieve voluntary compliance, officers prioritize education using signs, notices and one-on-one conversations. If education is unsuccessful, officers can use fines, tickets and legal proceedings to enforce the City's bylaws. 

There are many options for paying a Bylaw ticket. 

To pay a ticket online with your credit card, use the City’s online payment system. Please have your ticket number handy.

You can also pay in person at the Public Service Centre at City Hall, located on the corner of Douglas Street and Pandora Avenue. The Centre is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can pay with cash, cheque, debit or credit card.

You can mail in a cheque or money order (no cash), payable to the City of Victoria, to City of Victoria, #1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC, V8W 1P6. With the possibility of a Canada Post strike, we do not recommend mailing payments at this time.

You can also pay by cheque or money order using the after-hours deposit box located at the Pandora Avenue entrance to City Hall.

To request a review of your Bylaw ticket, please visit the Public Service Centre at City Hall to fill out a review form.

If you have received a ticket with a dispute form on the back, please fill it out and email it to bylawservices@victoria.ca or drop it off at the Public Service Centre at City Hall.

You can learn about temporary overnight sheltering here. You can also learn how to care for your possessions if needing temporary overnight sheltering and how to reclaim any items that have been impounded.