Policy 5.5.1 Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement

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Policy – 5.5.1 Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement      Page 1 of 12 
 
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Policy: 5.5.1 
Approved By: Trust Council 
Approval Date: March 11, 1995 
Amendment 
Dates: 
June 6, 1997; June 6, 1998; 
June 13, 2003; December 5, 2003; 
December 10, 2004; June 17, 2005; 
March 10, 2006; March 13, 2019, 
December 2, 2021; March 11, 2026 
Policy Holder: Director of Planning Services 
 
BYLAW COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT 
Purpose 
 
The purpose of the bylaw compliance and enforcement program is to support the object of Islands Trust 
to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of 
residents of the Trust Area and of the province generally by ensuring compliance with local trust 
committee bylaws. 
 
Principles 
The following principles are intended to align with the mandate of Islands Trust, adhere to the best 
practices outlined by the BC Office of the Ombudsperson, and ensure procedural fairness in all 
enforcement actions: 
1. Fairness and Impartiality: Apply bylaws consistently, ensuring decisions are unbiased and equitable 
for diverse island communities. 
2. Transparency and Communication: Provide clear, accessible information about enforcement 
policies, processes, and outcomes with understandable and meaningful reasons for the decision(s) 
made throughout the bylaw investigation and enforcement process to foster trust and understanding. 
3. Focus on Education and Compliance: Emphasize public education and voluntary compliance with 
bylaws. 
4. Procedural Fairness: Ensure timely notification of alleged infractions, offer opportunities to 
Respondents to be heard throughout the process, and guarantee unbiased decision-making. 
5. Proportionality and Discretion: Tailor enforcement actions to the severity and context of the 
infraction, with a focus on voluntary compliance. 
6. Efficiency: Prioritize significant violations that impact environmental sustainability or community 
safety, while streamlining processes for minor cases. 
7. Engagement and Inclusivity: Collaborate with island communities to ensure enforcement practices 
reflect local values and consider marginalized populations. 
8. Accountability and Oversight: Regularly review enforcement activities and maintain oversight to 
uphold public confidence and encourage local trust committees to update and align bylaws and to 
identify opportunities to make bylaws clear and coherent. 
9. Respect for Privacy: Safeguard the confidentiality of Complainants and individuals involved in 
enforcement actions, in compliance with privacy laws. 

Policy – 5.5.1 Bylaw Compliance and Enforcement      Page 2 of 12 
 
10. Administrative Fairness: Ensure that standards of conduct complaints are addressed in a fair, 
equitable, and timely manner in accordance with the principles of administrative fairness. 
11. Cultural Safety: Demonstrate a commitment to cultural safety for all those involved in bylaw 
compliance and enforcement. 
 
Roles and Responsibilities 
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