{"title":"Courtenay unsightly property rules and how to report","question":"How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?","slug":"unsightly-property","place":{"path":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","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 Courtenay","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca"},"short_answer":"To report an unsightly property or graffiti in the City of Courtenay, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use the service request form. The rules are in the Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804. The City does not respond to anonymous complaints.","aliases":["overgrown yard courtenay","messy property courtenay","graffiti courtenay","report junk yard courtenay"],"cost":"A bylaw notice for an unsightly property is $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late).","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"250-334-4441 ext. 5","note":"Seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m."},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@courtenay.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw complaint form","value":"https://digitalsmartforms.ca/f/l/CourtenayBylawComplaint"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Unsightly premises and graffiti, City of Courtenay","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/unsightly-premises-and-graffiti"},{"title":"Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw 2804 (PDF)","url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/prevention-public-nuisances-bylaw-no-2804-2014"}],"related":[{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Courtenay noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/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":"Owners and occupiers must not let property become unsightly through filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti, or let stagnant water or rubbish collect. \"Unsightly\" includes dirt, gravel, refuse, broken or useless items and vehicles no longer roadworthy. They must also keep property clear of noxious weeds, wild grass and untended growth.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/prevention-public-nuisances-bylaw-no-2804-2014","title":"Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 3(a), s. 2(a), s. 4","quotes":["No owner or occupier of real property shall allow such property to become or to remain unsightly by the accumulation thereon of any filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti of any kind.","“Unsightly” includes dirt, gravel, bark mulch or refuse and all discarded, broken","keep such property clear of noxious weeds, wild grass and other untended growth;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use the Service Request Form. The City does not respond to anonymous complaints.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/unsightly-premises-and-graffiti","title":"Unsightly premises and graffiti, City of Courtenay","section":"Unsightly premises and graffiti","quotes":["To report unsightly premises or graffiti, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use the Service Request Form"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws","title":"Bylaws, City of Courtenay","section":"Contact Bylaw Enforcement","quotes":["We do not respond to anonymous complaints."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"process":{"label":"What happens next","value":"Officers serve a notice and the owner must remove the material \"forthwith\". If not done, the City may enter and clean up at the owner's expense; unpaid costs after December 31 are added to the property taxes as taxes in arrears. Repeat problems can fall under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, 2019.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/prevention-public-nuisances-bylaw-no-2804-2014","title":"Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014 (PDF)","section":"s. 3(b), 3(c), s. 21","quotes":["shall forthwith, upon receipt of notice given","Where an owner or occupier of real property fails to comply with a requirement for","the cost shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the property as taxes in arrears."]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/problem-properties-and-enforcement","title":"Problem properties and enforcement, City of Courtenay","section":"Chronic nuisance properties","quotes":["Under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, 2019, the City can:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: unsightly property $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days; $125 if paid late). Failing to remove graffiti $200 ($150 early; $250 late). Failing to clear vegetation $100.","short":"Notice $100 ($75 if paid within 14 days)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF)","section":"Appendix A, Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw","quotes":["Unsightly property 3(a) $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes","Fail to remove graffiti 3(b) $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Yes","Fail to clear vegetation 4(i) $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF)","section":"Appendix A, Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw","quotes":["PREVENTION OF PUBLIC NUISANCES BYLAW NO. 2804, 2014"]},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/unsightly-premises-and-graffiti","title":"Unsightly premises and graffiti, City of Courtenay","section":"Unsightly premises and graffiti","quotes":["Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804"]}],"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 City of Courtenay's [Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804](https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/prevention-public-nuisances-bylaw-no-2804-2014) says owners and occupiers must not let property become unsightly through filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti, or let stagnant water or rubbish collect. \"Unsightly\" includes dirt, gravel, refuse, broken or useless items and vehicles no longer roadworthy. Owners must also keep property clear of noxious weeds, wild grass and untended growth.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Note the address and what you see.\n2. Report it through the bylaw complaint form, by email to bylaw@courtenay.ca or by calling 250-334-4441.\n3. Give your name. The City does not respond to anonymous complaints.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The City focuses on education and voluntary compliance first.\n- An officer serves a notice and the owner must remove the material \"forthwith\". If not done, the City may clean up at the owner's expense, and unpaid costs after December 31 are added to the property taxes as taxes in arrears. The bylaw gives no fixed number of days.\n- Bylaw notices: unsightly property $100; failing to remove graffiti $200 ($150 early; $250 late); failing to clear vegetation $100.\n- Repeat problems can fall under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, 2019.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/unsightly-premises-and-graffiti","title":"Unsightly premises and graffiti, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws/problem-properties-and-enforcement","title":"Problem properties and enforcement, City of Courtenay","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/prevention-public-nuisances-bylaw-no-2804-2014","title":"Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/media/file/3185-municipal-enforcement-bylaw-no-3185pdf","title":"Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.courtenay.ca/services/bylaws","title":"Bylaws, City of Courtenay","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/courtenay/unsightly-property/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/unsightly-property.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/unsightly-property.json"}}