Bylaws & Policies
About Bylaws
Bylaws are adopted by Council during open Council Meetings. Each bylaw must be read by Council three (3) times in an open and public meeting before it is adopted at a subsequent meeting. Members of the public wishing to provide feedback, questions and/or ideas to Council regarding proposed bylaws are encouraged to participate in the bylaw adoption process as early as possible by connecting with department staff proposing the bylaw or participating in Council meetings.
Commonly referred-to bylaws can be found within the categories below, as well as an archive of all bylaws.
While we attempt to keep our online bylaws and maps as current as possible, if it is critical that the most current information is obtained, please contact the Director of Corporate Services.
Policies
Policies are clear statements about how the District intends to conduct its services, actions, or business. Policies provide a set of guiding principles to help with decision-making for Council and Staff and are often accompanied by procedures that direct Staff on how to implement the policy.
District of Houston policies can be found here: Policies
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Corporate Services Department.
Bylaw Enforcement
Bylaw enforcement exists to provide regulations and to facilitate and enforce bylaws that pertain to the health, wellbeing, and structure of the community. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer attempts to gain compliance through education and communication, and, where required, through enforcement actions such as issuing tickets or pursuing more robust legal solutions in accordance with the District’s Bylaw Enforcement Policy.
Bylaw enforcement’s primary goals are:
- Public safety,
- Maintaining community standards, which contribute to improving the quality of life in Houston, and
- Managing behavioural and nuisance issues to promote a harmonious living environment.
Our Bylaw Enforcement Officer investigates alleged violations of Municipal regulations outlined in our bylaws, including:
- Property Conditions (Unsightly or Dangerous Conditions)
- Business Licensing and Zoning
- Animal Control and Licensing
- Nuisances
- Standards of Maintenance
- Open Burning and Woodstoves
Any person can make a complaint during regular business hours by:
- calling the Municipal Office at 250-845-2238,
- emailing a complaint to doh@houston.ca, or
- submitting a complaint online through the District’s Service Request Portal
- Your name, address, and contact information as the official complainant,
- Your relationship to the property or person that is the center of the complaint, and
- The location and description of the issue.
Complainants may be asked to provide more specific information depending on the nature of the complaint. It is at the discretion of the Bylaw Enforcement Officer whether a complaint needs to be investigated.
Freedom of Information
Requests for information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act must be made in writing using the Freedom of Information Request Form and should clearly identify the specific records being requested:
- The District will respond within 30 days or less.
- Charges may vary according to the amount of time required to gather the information.
Please inquire in advance to determine whether the information you are looking for is already publicly available or can be released without a formal request. Information that is already publicly available can save both you and the District time and costs.
Certain classes of information may:
- Be subject to severance from any documents released, or
- Be withheld entirely depending on the scope or nature of the information.
- All decisions are made in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Applicants may be required to pay fees for the processing of a request:
- A fee estimate will be provided in advance before any fees are charged.
- Maximum fees are set out in the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Regulation.
To submit a Freedom of Information request:
- Complete the Freedom of Information Request Form.
- Submit the form to the District of Houston by email, mail, fax, or hand delivery.
The request must provide sufficient detail to assist Staff in locating and retrieving the records. Please be clear, specific, and concise to reduce processing times and possible fees.
If you have questions, please contact the Corporate Officer, the appointed Freedom of Information Head for the District of Houston.
For more information, please refer to:
- The District’s Freedom of Information Bylaw
- The Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act
- Applicable Regulations
- Office of the Information & Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) of BC
Protection of Privacy
Pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the District of Houston may collect personal information about individuals.
Why Personal Information Is Collected
Personal information may be collected for the following purposes:
- A purpose authorized by legislation;
- Law enforcement purposes;
- Administering programs or services of the District;
- Situations where:
- Consent has been provided; and
- A reasonable person would consider the collection appropriate;
- Planning or evaluating District programs or activities;
- Reducing the risk of domestic violence where reasonably likely;
- Public events where:
- Individuals voluntarily appear; and
- The event is open to the public;
- Identity verification purposes through authorized provincial identity information services providers.
Use & Disclosure of Information
- Personal information may be used for an authorized purpose and is subject to disclosure rules under the Act.
- Information may be disclosed in response to a formal written request in accordance with the Act.
- Some information may be withheld where disclosure would be harmful to personal privacy.
Your Rights
If your personal information has been collected by the District, you have the right to:
- Request access to your personal information in writing.
- Request corrections if you believe the personal information is inaccurate.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information, please contact the District’s Corporate Officer, the appointed Privacy Coordinator for the District of Houston.
For more information, please contact: