Burnaby unsightly property rules and how to report
How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Burnaby?
Short answer
Report an unsightly or overgrown property in Burnaby to the City's Licensing office at 604-294-7320 or licence@burnaby.ca. Under the Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024, grass or weeds over 15 cm, rubbish and derelict vehicles are banned. A bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days).
Key facts
| What counts | An owner or occupier must not let property become or stay unsightly. Listed: storing abandoned building materials, derelict vehicles, rubbish, discarded materials, appliances, furniture or household items outdoors (unless in a fully enclosed building); a derelict vehicle; grass or weeds over 15 cm; noxious weeds; uncontrolled growth, cut or dead branches and trees, leaves, dead bushes; a rotting, leaning or crumbling fence, retaining wall or wood ties; stagnant water in a pond, pool or hot tub. Graffiti counts as unsightly.Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024, No. 14711, ss. 3.1, 3.2, 2.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo owner or occupier of real property shall allow that property to become or remain grass, weeds or similar ground cover to be over 15 centimeters in height; the accumulation or growth of noxious weeds; the accumulation of abandoned building materials, |
|---|---|
| How to report | Contact Licensing: licence@burnaby.ca or 604-294-7320.Business & Property Concerns, Property use · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingReport non-emergency problems such as businesses operating without a licence, unsightly premises, licence@burnaby.ca 604-294-7320 |
| What happens next | The General Manager Community Safety may issue a compliance order giving a time to fix the property, served by registered mail to the owner, mail to the property and posting on the property. If the order is not followed, the City may enter and do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense; the invoice is due in 30 days, and unpaid amounts at December 31 are added to the property taxes. An order can be appealed to Council by written notice to the Corporate Officer at least 7 days before the compliance deadline.Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024, No. 14711, Parts 4 and 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe General Manager Community Safety may issue a compliance order requiring the owner the City may, by its officers, employees, agents or contractors, enter onto the real property, within thirty (30) days of being issued an invoice for such (7) days prior to the expiration of the time period for compliance set out in the |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days) for allowing property to be unsightly (s. 3.1) and for each listed condition in s. 3.2; obstructing an inspector $500 ($400).Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A, Schedule A, Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording3.1 Allowing real property to be unsightly 500 400 YES Storage of unsightly materials outside 500 400 YES |
| Bylaw | Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024 (Bylaw No. 14711).Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024, No. 14711, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBURNABY UNSIGHTLY PREMISES BYLAW 2024 |
How it works
The City of Burnaby's Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024 says an owner or occupier must not let property become or stay unsightly. The General Manager Community Safety may issue a compliance order giving a time to fix it, served by registered mail to the owner, mail to the property and posting on the property. The bylaw sets no fixed number of days; each order sets its own.
Steps
- Call Licensing at 604-294-7320 or email licence@burnaby.ca with the address and what you see.
- If there is a breach, a compliance order is issued.
- If the order is not followed, the City may do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense. The invoice is due in 30 days, and amounts unpaid at December 31 are added to the property taxes.
- An owner can appeal an order to Council by written notice to the Corporate Officer at least 7 days before the compliance deadline.
Good to know
- Listed conditions include: abandoned building materials, derelict vehicles, rubbish, appliances, furniture or household items stored outdoors (unless in a fully enclosed building); grass or weeds over 15 cm; noxious weeds; uncontrolled growth, dead branches, trees and bushes; a rotting, leaning or crumbling fence or retaining wall; and stagnant water in a pond, pool or hot tub. Graffiti counts too.
- Firewood is not "discarded materials" if neatly piled or stacked against a wall or fence.
- The bylaw also bans leaving such material on or around public property.
- A bylaw notice is $500 ($400 if paid within 15 days), including for obstructing an inspector. Each day can be a separate offence in court.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
New Westminster · Richmond · Port Moody · Belcarra · Coquitlam · Port Coquitlam
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Business & Property Concerns, City of Burnaby (read 2026-11-05)
- Burnaby Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2024, No. 14711 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 12657, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.