The GVS&DD Board approved amendments to the Notice of Bylaw Violation Bylaw at its April 25, 2025 meeting:
Metro Vancouver is developing potential amendments to the Notice of Bylaw Violation Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 378, 2024, as amended (Notice of Bylaw Violation Bylaw). They would add the ability to issue notices of bylaw violation for contraventions of the generator levy provisions of the GVS&DD Tipping Fee and Solid Waste Disposal Bylaw No. 379, as amended (Tipping Fee Bylaw).
Notices of bylaw violation
Notices of bylaw violation are a compliance promotion tool available to local governments. They enable local governments to issue penalty amounts up to $500 per violation and offer discounts for early payment and surcharges for late payments.
When a Notice of Bylaw Violation is issued, there are typically two avenues for the recipient to consider. One is to pay the financial penalty, and the other is to dispute the Notice of Bylaw Violation. The dispute is ultimately heard by an independent third-party adjudicator who reviews the dispute application and makes a decision based on facts and the balance of probabilities.
Notices of bylaw violation supplement other bylaw compliance promotion tools such as education, awareness promotion, inspections, warnings, and enforcement through the courts.
History
Metro Vancouver member jurisdictions and the Metro Vancouver Regional District have had notice of bylaw violation bylaws in place for up to 20 years. In April 2023, the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (GVS&DD) and Greater Vancouver Water District (GVWD) were granted the authority to implement notice of bylaw violation bylaws.
In May 2024, the GVS&DD Board approved the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Notice of Bylaw Violation Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication Bylaw No. 378, 2024 with liquid waste provisions. Subsequently, the GVS&DD Board approved an amending bylaw: Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Notice of Bylaw Violation Enforcement and Dispute Adjudication Amendment Bylaw No. 380, 2024 including provisions for the Municipal Solid Waste and Recyclable Material Regulatory Bylaw No. 181, 1996 (a solid waste facility licensing bylaw).
Tipping Fee Bylaw provisions
The Tipping Fee Bylaw sets garbage and recycling fees at Metro Vancouver solid waste facilities, lists banned recyclable and hazardous materials, and establishes the requirements for the generator levy.
Including Tipping Fee Bylaw provisions in the Notice of Bylaw Violation Bylaw would provide an additional compliance promotion tool for the generator levy provisions of the Tipping Fee Bylaw.
Note that no changes to the Tipping Fee Bylaw are being considered.
Encouraging Tipping Fee Bylaw compliance
Adding Tipping Fee Bylaw provisions to the Notice of Bylaw Violation Bylaw would provide a simple, cost-effective system for promoting compliance with the generator levy.
Examples of potential Tipping Fee Bylaw violations include failure to:
- Remit the generator levy
- Create and maintain records
- Comply with the request of a Compliance Officer for inspection and copying of records
- Create records in an electronic or other format acceptable to the Compliance Manager
Notices of bylaw violation issued to corporate entities that have been paid, upheld, or for which there is no active dispute process, will be summarized and published on Metro Vancouver’s Compliance and Enforcement webpage.
Your feedback is welcome
Please provide any written comments by Friday, March 7, 2025 to Metro Vancouver at
solidwasteoperations@metrovancouver.org with the subject line “Notice of Bylaw Violation Engagement — Tipping Fee Bylaw Provisions”.
Feedback, including organization names, will be provided to the Zero Waste Committee and Metro Vancouver Board. This information will be publicly available. Personal information will not be published.