{"title":"Abbotsford unsightly property rules and how to report","question":"How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?","slug":"unsightly-property","place":{"path":"ca/bc/abbotsford","name":"Abbotsford","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of Abbotsford","url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca"},"short_answer":"In Abbotsford, report an unsightly or overgrown property to City Bylaw Services using the online Bylaw Service Request form, the @abbotsford app, or by calling 604-864-5512. The Good Neighbour Bylaw covers overgrown grass, junk, stored rubbish and neglected vacant properties.","aliases":["overgrown lawn abbotsford","messy yard bylaw","unsightly premises abbotsford","abandoned property abbotsford","long grass neighbour"],"cost":"No specific amount is set for this offence. The general penalty applies: a $500 bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days of delivery) or a $1,000 municipal ticket ($500 if paid in full by the 30th day after service).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw Service Request form","value":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"604-864-5512","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylawservices@abbotsford.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Bylaw Service Request","url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request"},{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024","url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Abbotsford bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/mission","name":"Mission","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mission/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/chilliwack","name":"Chilliwack","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chilliwack/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/maple-ridge","name":"Maple Ridge","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/maple-ridge/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/pitt-meadows","name":"Pitt Meadows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pitt-meadows/unsightly-property/"}],"topic":{"title":"Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property/"},"facts":{"what_counts":{"label":"What counts","value":"An owner or occupier must not store outside discarded materials, rubbish, inoperable vehicles, furniture, appliances or similar items; keep a vehicle, boat, trailer or RV on a landscaped area or in disrepair (unless fully enclosed); pile building materials over 15 days without a permit; let vegetation, cut branches, leaves or dirt piles accumulate; leave graffiti visible; let grass or weeds go over 10 inches; or let a building or fence fall into disrepair.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024 (No. 3068-2024), consolidated to March 31, 2026","section":"s. 7","quotes":["An owner or occupier of a property must not","store outside","(i) discarded materials,","accumulate building materials for more than 15 days without a valid building permit,","an uncontrolled growth of vegetation;","cause or permit graffiti to remain on a wall, fence or elsewhere on the property that is visible from a public place,","cause or permit grass, weeds or similar ground cover on the property to be over 10 inches in height, or","a building or structure on the property does not fall into such a state of disrepair that it becomes unsightly or creates a hazard, danger, nuisance, or inconvenience to the general public;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Fill in the online Bylaw Service Request form (give the exact address if possible) or use the @abbotsford app. Phone Bylaw Services at 604-864-5512 or email bylawservices@abbotsford.ca. The City keeps the identity of every service requester confidential.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request","title":"Bylaw Service Request, City of Abbotsford","section":"intro","quotes":["If you have a concern in regards to a bylaw infraction occurring within the City of Abbotsford, complete the form below."]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Abbotsford","section":"FAQ","quotes":["Unsightly Premises (i.e. boulevard maintenance, overgrown lawn, garbage build-up)","Please be assured that the City keeps the identity of every service requester confidential.","Email: bylawservices@abbotsford.ca"]},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf","title":"Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021) (PDF)","section":"Abandoned/Vacant Properties","quotes":["To report abandoned or vacant properites, please call: 604-864-5512.","Report online: abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request or through the @abbotsford app"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"process":{"label":"What happens next","value":"Bylaw Services starts with education, then voluntary compliance, then formal steps such as tickets. A bylaw enforcement officer can serve a written order stating what to fix and by when; the owner can ask Council to reconsider. If the order is not followed, the City may enter the property, fix the problem and bill the owner for the costs, which can be added to the property tax bill.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Abbotsford","section":"FAQ","quotes":["Step 1: Community Education","Step 2: Voluntary compliance on a case by case basis","Step 3: Formal legal proceedings (e.g., tickets)"]},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024 (No. 3068-2024), consolidated to March 31, 2026","section":"s. 24, 25, 27, 28","quotes":["the bylaw enforcement officer may serve an order to the owner, or other responsible person, requiring them to comply with this bylaw.","the date by which the person must comply with the order;","the City, by its workers or other responsible person, may, at all reasonable times, and in a reasonable manner, enter the property and cause compliance with this bylaw.","a person who is subject to a decision or an order","recover the costs incurred from that person as a debt or direct that the amount be added","to the property's property tax payroll for the calendar year."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $500 ($50 discount if paid within 14 days of delivery, so $450). Municipal ticket: $1,000 ($500 discount if paid in full by the 30th day after service, so $500).","short":"Notice $500 ($450 if paid in 14 days); ticket $1,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017)","section":"s. 6(a), 6(b), 17, 18, 28","quotes":["$500 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by bylaw notice;","$1 000 for a bylaw contravention dealt with by municipal ticket;","is discounted by $50 if the penalty is paid in full within 14 days of the delivery of the bylaw notice.","is $500 if not paid within 30 days following the date the penalty becomes due and payable.","is discounted by $500 if the penalty is paid in full by the 30th day from the date on which the ticket is served.","The Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2007 and Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, 2007 are"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024 (Bylaw No. 3068-2024), Part 2 Property Standards","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024 (No. 3068-2024), consolidated to March 31, 2026","section":"title","quotes":["Good Neighbour Bylaw, 202 4","Bylaw No. 3068-2024"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Good Neighbour Bylaw](<https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068>), an owner or occupier must not store outside discarded materials, rubbish, inoperable vehicles, furniture, appliances or similar items. Other banned conditions include a vehicle, boat, trailer or RV left on a landscaped area or in disrepair (unless fully enclosed), building materials piled over 15 days without a permit, accumulated vegetation, cut branches, leaves or dirt piles, visible graffiti, grass or weeds over 10 inches, and a building or fence in disrepair.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Note the exact address.\n2. Fill in the online Bylaw Service Request form or use the @abbotsford app. Or phone Bylaw Services at 604-864-5512, or email bylawservices@abbotsford.ca. The City keeps the identity of every requester confidential.\n3. Bylaw Services starts with education, then voluntary compliance, then formal steps such as tickets.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A bylaw enforcement officer can serve a written order saying what to fix and by when. The owner can ask Council to reconsider. If the order is not followed, the City may enter the property, fix the problem and bill the owner, and the cost can be added to the property tax bill.\n- Also covered: noxious weeds, vacant premises that are not secured, the boulevard and sidewalk in front of the property, and littering or dumping.\n- Health, safety or liability concerns can get faster action.\n- No specific fine is set for this offence, so the general penalty applies: a $500 bylaw notice ($450 if paid within 14 days of delivery) or a $1,000 municipal ticket ($500 if paid in full by the 30th day after service). Section 18 of the Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw sets a late-payment amount of $500 if a bylaw notice is not paid within 30 days after it becomes due.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/city-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/bylaw-service-request","title":"Bylaw Service Request, City of Abbotsford","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2024bylaw3068","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw, 2024 (No. 3068-2024), consolidated to March 31, 2026","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://laws.abbotsford.ca/civix/document/id/coa/coabylaws/2020bylaw3017","title":"Bylaw Enforcement Bylaw, 2020 (No. 3017)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.abbotsford.ca/sites/default/files/2021-02/Abbotsford%20Good%20Neighbour%20Guide.pdf","title":"Abbotsford Good Neighbour Guide (2021) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/unsightly-property/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/unsightly-property.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/abbotsford/unsightly-property.json"}}