Bylaw Education & Enforcement

The District of Sooke is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and respectful community. Our Bylaw team works with residents and businesses to encourage voluntary compliance through education, awareness, and - when necessary - enforcement.

We aim to support community well-being by helping everyone understand the rules that protect public safety, our environment, and our shared spaces.

The District follows an education-first approach to bylaw services. This means:

  • Providing clear information and guidance to help residents understand local bylaws
  • Encouraging compliance through conversation and collaborative problem-solving
  • Using enforcement tools only when education and voluntary compliance are not successful
  • Prioritizing public safety, environmental protection, and community livability

We recognize that learning the rules is a shared responsibility, and we’re here to help.

About Our Team

The District of Sooke’s Bylaw Services team is small but dedicated, working every day to support community safety, education, and livability.

We currently have three bylaw staff:

  • Two Bylaw Enforcement Officers who provide on-the-ground education, conduct inspections, respond to concerns, and carry out enforcement when necessary.
  • One Administrative Officer who manages file coordination, complaint intake, communications, record keeping, and supports business licensing processes.

Together, this team provides 7-day-a-week coverage, including daytime and evening shifts. With such a small team, coordinating staffing to meet community needs every day can be challenging—yet our officers consistently do their best within available resources, balancing fairness, responsiveness, and public safety.

Our team is:

  • Approachable and solution-focused, prioritizing conversation, education, and voluntary compliance.
  • Knowledgeable in municipal regulations, community safety principles, and compliance best practices.
  • Trained in conflict resolution, communication, and safety procedures.
  • Committed to professionalism, respect, and consistency in all interactions.

What We Do

The Bylaw Services team provides community education, responds to concerns, and ensures compliance with District bylaws. Our work includes:

  • Responding to bylaw complaints about noise, parking, property standards, business licensing, signage, and more.
  • Conducting inspections to assess potential bylaw violations and ensure compliance.
  • Providing public education to help residents understand local regulations and how to meet them.
  • Working collaboratively with residents, businesses, and community groups to resolve issues informally where possible.
  • Issuing warnings, notices, and tickets when voluntary compliance is not achieved.
  • Supporting community safety through proactive patrols and monitoring of problem areas.
  • Coordinating with other District departments (such as Fire, Engineering, and Planning) when issues overlap.
  • Tracking trends and concerns to inform future policy development and enforcement strategies.

Our goal is always to help residents find solutions that maintain a high quality of life for all.

Our Bylaw team responds to a range of concerns, including:

  • Property maintenance (untidy properties, overgrown vegetation)
  • Noise
  • Parking and traffic regulations
  • Wildlife attractants
  • Burning regulations
  • Business licensing
  • Signage
  • Construction-related bylaws
  • Short-term rentals

Browse and search bylaws to learn more about the rules and how to stay compliant.

If you see a bylaw concern, you can report it through our online service portal:

When submitting a report, please provide as much detail as possible - including location, description of the issue, and any relevant photos. This helps staff assess and respond efficiently.

Once a concern is received:

  1. Intake & Review: Staff review the report to determine jurisdiction and next steps.
  2. Site Visit / Follow-up: An officer may inspect the site or contact the involved parties for more information.
  3. Education First: Most concerns are resolved through conversations, notices, or guidance on how to comply.
  4. Enforcement (if required): Tickets, orders, or further actions may occur when voluntary compliance is not achieved.

Timelines may vary depending on workload, severity, and public safety considerations.

Most bylaw issues can be resolved quickly when residents work collaboratively with staff. By providing clear information and engaging with affected property owners or occupants, we can often avoid formal enforcement actions.

This cooperative approach helps:

  • Reduce repeat issues
  • Build understanding of local regulations
  • Strengthen neighbourhood relationships
  • Focus resources where they’re needed most

Bylaws help ensure:

  • Public safety
  • Environmental protection
  • Neighbourhood livability
  • Fairness across the community
  • Clear expectations for property owners, businesses, and visitors

When everyone understands and follows local bylaws, the whole community benefits.

Learn More

For easy access to District bylaws, visit our Bylaws page.

If you have questions or need clarification, contact the Bylaw department at 250-642-1634 or bylaw@sooke.ca  - we're here to help.

Contact Us

District of Sooke
2205 Otter Point Road
Sooke, BC V9Z 1J2 


Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30am – 4:30pm
Phone: 250-642-1634

Sign up to our Newsletter

Stay up to date on the District’s activities, events, programs and operations by subscribing to our eNewsletters.

Sign Up Today!