Coquitlam unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?

Coquitlam, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

To report an unsightly or overgrown property in Coquitlam, call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-927-3580 or email Bylaw Services with the exact address and your contact details. The Unsightly Premises Bylaw covers rubbish, overgrown grass, stored furniture, inoperable vehicles and graffiti.

Key facts

What counts	Property must not become or remain unsightly, and rubbish must not collect around premises. Examples: broken fences, materials strewn about, inoperable vehicles, unused construction materials, furniture or appliances stored outside, uncontained compost, grass over 15 cm, noxious weeds, graffiti. Residential lots: more than 2 recreational vehicles, or vehicles without current-year insurance (one insured for storage only is allowed).Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3213, 1998, s. 3-5; Unsightly Premises, Unsightly Conditions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person may cause or permit to be caused, water, rubbish or noxious, offensive or No person may deposit or throw bottles, broken glass or other rubbish in any open place No owner or occupier of real property will allow that property to become or remain unsightly dilapidated, broken or leaning fences one or more motor vehicles stored on the real property that are not capable of unmowed grass in excess of 15 centimetres in height overgrown vegetation or noxious weeds uncontained compost piles more than 2 recreational vehicles not displaying current year insurance provided that no property shall be permitted outdoor storage of more than one such motor vehicle insured only for storage, more than 2 recreational vehicles, which, for the purposes of this Furniture (other than furniture designed specifically for outdoor use), bedding or appliances stored outside
How to report	Call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-927-3580 or email Bylaw Services. Give your name and contact details and the exact address; anonymous complaints are not accepted. Graffiti: use the City's Graffiti Reporting Form. Boulevard concerns: Engineering & Public Works, 604-927-3500. Complaints about strata or mobile home properties go to the strata council or management company.Unsightly Premises, How to Report Unsightly Premises; Complaints and Enforcement, Report a Bylaw Complaint; Complaint Process, Details to Include · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording To report an Unsightly Premises concern, call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-927-3580 or email Bylaw Services. All community complaints of graffiti should be reported through the Graffiti Reporting Form contact Coquitlam Engineering & Public Works at 604-927-3500 The City will not accept anonymous complaints. you must forward your complaint to the strata management company or strata council. We will not attend complaints based on description of a house or area.
What happens next	The City first tries education and voluntary compliance. An authorized person may then give oral notice to an occupier over 16, or written notice by registered mail to the owner, occupant or agent, requiring the unsightly materials, brush, weeds, overgrown grass or graffiti to be removed within the time in the notice. If the notice is not obeyed, the City may enter and do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense; unpaid costs are added to the property taxes as taxes in arrears if not paid by December 31 of that year.Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3213, 1998, s. 7-9; Complaints and Enforcement, Complaints & Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording may enter at all reasonable times on by oral notice given to an occupier of the real property apparently over the age of 16 or by written notice sent by registered mail to the within the time specified in the notice may enter on the real property and effect the compliance specified in the notice at the expense of the person who failed to comply the costs will be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the real property as taxes in arrears Our preferred method is to explain to people who are violating the City’s bylaws, the need for the bylaws and, if possible, obtain voluntary compliance.
Fine	Bylaw notice ($ within 14 days / full): accumulated rubbish $100 / $150; unsightly property in general $100 / $150; unsightly vehicles $200 / $250; allowing graffiti to remain $100 / $150; depositing rubbish $100 / $150; placing graffiti $400 / $500. A 50% compliance agreement discount can apply to some. Municipal ticket: $1,000.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3749, 2006 (consolidated July 2026), Schedule A, Unsightly Premises Bylaw; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4320, 2012 (consolidated July 2026), Schedule B-24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Accumulated rubbish 3 100 150 50% Depositing rubbish 4 100 150 n/a Unsightly property - general 5.1 100 150 50% Unsightly property – vehicles 5.1 200 250 50% Allow graffiti to remain 6.1 100 150 50% Place graffiti 6.3 400 500 n/a Unsightly property 5.1 1000 Place graffiti 6.3 1000
Bylaw	City of Coquitlam Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3213, 1998Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3213, 1998, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of Coquitlam Unsightly Premises Bylaw

How it works

Under the Unsightly Premises Bylaw 3213, property must not become or remain unsightly, and rubbish must not collect around premises. The City first tries education and voluntary compliance.

Steps

Get the exact street address.
Call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-927-3580 or email Bylaw Services. Give your name and contact details; anonymous complaints are not accepted, and the City will not act on a description of a house or area.
An authorized person may give oral notice to an occupier over 16, or written notice by registered mail to the owner, occupant or agent, to remove the unsightly materials, weeds, overgrown grass or graffiti within the time in the notice.
For graffiti, use the City's Graffiti Reporting Form. For boulevards, call Engineering and Public Works at 604-927-3500.

Good to know

Examples the bylaw gives: broken fences, materials strewn about, inoperable vehicles, unused construction materials, furniture or appliances stored outside, uncontained compost, grass over 15 cm, noxious weeds and graffiti. On residential lots, more than 2 recreational vehicles or vehicles without current-year insurance (one insured for storage only is allowed) also count.
If a notice is not obeyed, the City may do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense; unpaid costs are added to the property taxes if not paid by December 31 of that year.
Bylaw notice (within 14 days / full): rubbish, or unsightly property in general, $100 / $150; unsightly vehicles $200 / $250; allowing graffiti to remain $100 / $150; placing graffiti $400 / $500. A 50% compliance agreement discount can apply to some. A municipal ticket is $1,000.
Strata and mobile home property complaints go to the strata council or management company.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Port Coquitlam · Port Moody · Belcarra · Anmore · New Westminster · Burnaby

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Unsightly Premises, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3213, 1998 (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Complaints and Enforcement, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Complaint Process, City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3749, 2006 (consolidated July 2026) (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4320, 2012 (consolidated July 2026) (PDF), City of Coquitlam (read 2026-11-05)

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