Bylaw Violations & the Complaint Process

The Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department investigates and responds to complaints received about bylaw violations in the City of Maple Ridge. Bylaw enforcement generally refers to a host of actions directed at obtaining compliance with local government bylaws, including:

educating the public about regulatory rules
conducting inspections to ensure that the rules are being followed
leveraging voluntary compliance with the rules where possible
seeking consequences for contraventions where compliance is not forthcoming or harm has been done to the community

Please note that we do not accept anonymous complaints and there is a limit of three (3) non-recurring complaints per complainant property, per calendar year.

How to File a Bylaw Complaint

You can submit a complaint online, over the phone at 604-467-7305, by email, by regular mail or in person at the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department at the City. When making a complaint, be prepared to give your name, address, telephone number and be prepared to provide specific details about the complaint. The City will keep the identity of the complainant confidential even if the complainant has agreed to be identified. The only time their name is used is if they are needed to be identified as a complainant in Court or before Council. In these cases we will contact the complainant prior to releasing any information.

Required Information

When making a bylaw complaint, be prepared to provide as many details as possible including:

your name
your home address
your phone number
address of property involved
description of motor vehicle with licence plate (if applicable)
date(s) when violation observed
detailed description of violation

All information gathered for Bylaw, Licensing & Community Service complaints is managed in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Complaint Responses

Bylaw Compliance Officers will investigate your complaint as soon as possible. You are encouraged to keep your complaint file up to date and to keep the Bylaw Compliance Officer apprised of the status of your complaint, if the situation improves, worsens or stays the same.

If there is a contravention of City bylaws, Bylaw Compliance Officers will work with the person responsible to voluntarily remedy the situation. The City appreciates your patience in bylaw enforcement matters.

In relation to certain hazardous situations or declared nuisances, City Council may order a person to rectify the situation or take action to eliminate the hazard or damage and require the person to pay the costs incurred to do so. Where compliance with a bylaw is a condition of a licence or permit, Bylaw Compliance Officers may find it necessary to suspend the licence or permit until the person, or persons, comply.

Bylaw Violations

Some of the more common bylaw violations are listed below.

Animal Control

Please contact the Maple Ridge Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at 604-463-9511 to report a dog at large or if you are concerned about the welfare of an animal. View our Animal Control & Licencing Bylaw (PDF).

Business Licence

Complaints include operating a business without a current Maple Ridge business licence. View our Business Licencing and Regulation Bylaw (PDF).

Highway and Traffic

For any moving traffic violations, like speeding, please call the Ridge Meadows RCMP at 604-463-6251 or if considered an emergency, call 911. Review our Highway and Traffic Bylaw (PDF). Some of the more common violations under this bylaw include:

overtime parking
parking within 3 metres of a private driveway or entrance
parking within 6 metres of a stop sign or traffic control signal
parking within 5 metres of a fire hydrant
parking in a "no parking" or restricted parking area
parking an overweight vehicle (over 5,500 kilograms) in a residential zone
leaving an unhitched trailer or boat on the street

Noise

If the noise you hear is gunshots or people fighting, please contact the RCMP at 911. For noise complaints such as a barking dog, loud music, etc., please print off and complete our complaint form (PDF) or contact the Bylaw, Licensing & Community Safety Department at 604-467-7305. Please note that to lodge a noise complaint, we will need to know the following information: