{"title":"Comox unsightly property rules and how to report","question":"How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Comox?","slug":"unsightly-property","place":{"path":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","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":"Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca"},"short_answer":"In Comox, owners and occupiers must not allow garbage, standing water, unsanitary conditions, unsafe growth, graffiti or unsightly conditions on their property. To report one, use the Town's online Bylaw Complaint Form or call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-339-2202.","aliases":["unsightly property Comox","overgrown yard Comox","messy neighbour Comox","property maintenance bylaw Comox"],"cost":"Bylaw notice: $150 if paid within 14 days, $200 after; graffiti $450 / $500. Municipal ticket: $200 ($500 for graffiti).","how_long":"A cleanup order gives the owner 14 days.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw Complaint Form (Report an Issue)","value":"https://www.comox.ca/reporting"},{"type":"phone","label":"Town Bylaw Enforcement Officer (Comox Town Hall)","value":"250-339-2202","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@comox.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf"},{"title":"Report an Issue, Town of Comox","url":"https://www.comox.ca/reporting"},{"title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)","url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Comox bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Comox noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/noise-rules/"},{"slug":"how-many-pets","title":"How many dogs or cats you can keep in Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/how-many-pets/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/powell-river","name":"Powell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-alberni","name":"Port Alberni","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/qualicum-beach","name":"Qualicum Beach","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/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 allow: accumulated refuse or garbage, accumulated water, unsanitary conditions, trees or growths that are a safety hazard, graffiti, or unsightly conditions. They must also keep the abutting sidewalk and boulevard tidy and mowed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","section":"ss. 3, 4, 5","quotes":["No owner or occupier of real property shall cause, permit or allow:","material to accumulate on such real property","water to accumulate on such real property","unsanitary conditions to exist on such real property","graffiti to be placed or remain on any buildings or structures","unsightly conditions to exist on such real property","mowing any grass;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Use the Town's online Bylaw Complaint Form (unsightly properties are a listed neighbourhood concern), or call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-339-2202.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/reporting","title":"Report an Issue, Town of Comox","section":"Report an Issue page","quotes":["To report Town-related issues:","Bylaw Complaint Form"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks","title":"Pets in Parks | Town of Comox","section":"Pets in Parks page, FAQ","quotes":["Town of Comox Bylaw Enforcement Officer phone: 250-339-2202"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"process":{"label":"What happens next","value":"A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may order the owner or occupier, in writing by registered mail or posted on the property, to clean up within 14 days at their expense. If not done, and after offering a chance to be heard by Council, the Town may do the work and recover the cost as a debt or like property taxes.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","section":"ss. 19, 20","quotes":["A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may, by notice in writing sent by registered mail or posted on the property","within fourteen (14) days of the mailing or posting of the Order","opportunity to be heard by Council in respect of such failure","recover the costs either as a debt against the person in default"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $150 if paid within 14 days, $200 after (refuse, water, unsanitary, unsafe growth, unsightly); graffiti $450 / $500. Municipal ticket under Bylaw 1652: $200 ($500 for graffiti).","short":"Notice $150 if paid in 14 days, $200 after; ticket $200","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, A11","quotes":["Unsightly Conditions 3(f) 150 200 50%","Graffiti 3(e) 450 500 50%"]},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Unsightly Conditions 3(f) $200.00","Graffiti 3(e) $500.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Comox Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2010 (Bylaw No. 1652)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This bylaw may be cited as the “Comox Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2010”."]}],"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\nThe [Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652](https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf) says an owner or occupier must not allow accumulated refuse or garbage, accumulated water, unsanitary conditions, trees or growths that are a safety hazard, graffiti, or unsightly conditions. They must also keep the abutting sidewalk and boulevard tidy and mowed.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Report it with the Town's online Bylaw Complaint Form (unsightly properties are a listed neighbourhood concern), or call the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-339-2202.\n2. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may order the owner or occupier, in writing by registered mail or posted on the property, to clean up within 14 days at their expense.\n3. If it is not done, and after offering a chance to be heard by Council, the Town may do the work and recover the cost as a debt or like property taxes.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Fines: a bylaw notice is $150 if paid within 14 days and $200 after (graffiti $450 / $500). A municipal ticket under Bylaw 1652 is $200 ($500 for graffiti).\n- A compliance agreement can cut the bylaw notice by 50%.\n- Failing to comply with a removal order is a further offence at the same amounts.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2022-04/Bylaw%201652%20Public%20Nuisance%20and%20Property%20Maintenance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance and Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1652 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/sites/default/files/2026-08/Bylaw%202004%20Consolidated%20-%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20as%20at%20June%2010%2C%202026.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2004 (consolidated to June 10, 2026) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/reporting","title":"Report an Issue, Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.comox.ca/parksandfields/pets-parks","title":"Pets in Parks | Town of Comox","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","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/comox/unsightly-property/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/unsightly-property.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/unsightly-property.json"}}