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Courtenay unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?

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

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.

Key facts

What countsOwners 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.Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 3(a), s. 2(a), s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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;
How to reportCall Bylaw Enforcement at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use the Service Request Form. The City does not respond to anonymous complaints.Unsightly premises and graffiti; Bylaws, Contact Bylaw Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
To report unsightly premises or graffiti, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-334-4441, email bylaw@courtenay.ca or use the Service Request Form
We do not respond to anonymous complaints.
What happens nextOfficers 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.Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014, s. 3(b), 3(c), s. 21; Problem properties and enforcement, Chronic nuisance properties · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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.
Under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, 2019, the City can:
FineBylaw 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.Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
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
BylawPrevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185, Appendix A, Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw; Unsightly premises and graffiti · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
PREVENTION OF PUBLIC NUISANCES BYLAW NO. 2804, 2014
Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804

How it works

The City of Courtenay's Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804 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.

Steps

  1. Note the address and what you see.
  2. Report it through the bylaw complaint form, by email to bylaw@courtenay.ca or by calling 250-334-4441.
  3. Give your name. The City does not respond to anonymous complaints.

Good to know

  • The City focuses on education and voluntary compliance first.
  • 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.
  • Bylaw notices: unsightly property $100; failing to remove graffiti $200 ($150 early; $250 late); failing to clear vegetation $100.
  • Repeat problems can fall under the Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 2987, 2019.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Comox · Cumberland · Powell River · Campbell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Unsightly premises and graffiti, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Problem properties and enforcement, City of Courtenay (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Prevention of Public Nuisances Bylaw No. 2804, 2014 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Enforcement Bylaw No. 3185 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Bylaws, City of Courtenay (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.