Islands Trust Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Best Practices Manual

Extracted text (beginning)

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Bylaw Compliance  
& Enforcement 
Best Practices Manual
July 2025

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Contents
Definitions
What is the purpose of the Islands Trust Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement program?
Guiding Principles
Roles and Responsibilities
What initiates a Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement case file?
How can complaints be sent to the Islands Trust?
What is not a complaint?
When are Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement case files closed?
How is compliance achieved?
 Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Process
 When Compliance is not achieved
 Appealing Decisions Made by a Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Officer
 Reviewing the Conduct of Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement Officers
 Public access to records
 Exercising Discretion
 Bylaw Enforcement Notices and Dispute Adjudication System
 Dispute Adjudication
Referenced Documents

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Has the property 
owner complied 
with the agreement?
Ye s
No
book-open 
Property owner gets a 
Determination letter and 
educational support so they can 
comply with the bylaw 
exclamation-triangle
The property owner gets a 
bylaw violation notice
gavel
A bylaw notice is sent to an 
adjudicator, and a hearing date is 
set with the property owner
At the hearing: 
Adjudicator makes a final 
decision about the case, and 
the bylaw notice will either be 
cancelled or must be paid by the 
property owner
Is the bylaw complaint 
in the Islands Trust 
jurisdiction?
Islands Trust opens a 
file and the property 
owner receives a letter
Are there any bylaw 
contraventions?
Has the property owner 
complied within a reasonable 
time?
check-circle Case closed
check-circle Case closed
Islands Trust receives a 
bylaw complaint
No
No
No
Property owner disputes
Dispute cancelled
Compliance agreement created
Ye s
Ye s
Property owner complies
Property owner requests immediate adjudication
handshake-simple  
Islands Trust investigates, including 
meeting with the property owner 
and inspects the site to investigate
magnifying-glass
Islands Trust receives the 
dispute and investigates. 
Depending on the evidence, 
Islands Trust will cancel the 
dispute OR create a compliance 
agreement to support the 
property owner in their journey 
circle-x Case closed
Ye s
stamp
Bylaw Enforcement Pathway:  
Steps to Compliance
file-xmark

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Definitions
Adjudicator means an independent party whom the Province of British Columbia appoints to decide 
if a Bylaw Violation Notice will be upheld or cancelled.
Bylaw Notice means a ticket, with penalty, issued under the Local Government Bylaw Notice 
Enforcement Act.
Complaints a report of an alleged contravention made by any person. 
Complainant a person who has made an official complaint. 
Disputant means a respondent who has been given a Bylaw Violation Notice, and disputed it. 
Local government refers to municipalities and regional districts which provide services to local 
communities. In this document, the local government referred to is Islands Trust.
Ombudsperson Office is an independent, impartial office of the provincial legislature t

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