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Cranbrook unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?

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

Short answer

Report an unsightly property in Cranbrook to City of Cranbrook Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598 or through its online form. Under Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025, owners must not let garbage, vegetation over 30 cm, noxious weeds, graffiti or derelict vehicles build up.

Key facts

What countsAn owner or occupier must not let the property become or remain unsightly. This includes garbage, rubbish or discarded materials left outside; vegetation unkempt or over 30 cm high; more than one derelict vehicle visible from an adjacent property; noxious weeds; and graffiti visible from a highway or public place.Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025 (consolidated to July 27, 2026), ss. 3.1, 3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
must not cause, suffer, permit or allow the
Property to become or remain unsightly.
Vegetation to be unkempt or to exceed 30 cm in height;
more than one Derelict Vehicle to be parked, stored or kept on the Property so
Noxious Weeds to grow or accumulate on the Property.
Graffiti to be placed or to remain on the property
How to reportCall Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598 or use the online contact form. Give your name, address and phone number, and the address of concern, owner if known, and details.Request for Service · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
nuisance properties
General Bylaws Contact: 250-489-9598
Contact us online here
we will require your name, address, and phone number, and the specifics of your request
What happens nextA bylaw officer who sees a contravention may issue a written notice ordering the owner or occupier to fix it. A reconsideration request must be made within 7 days of receipt. Unless cancelled, the work must be done within 21 days of receipt. If not, the City may do it at the owner's expense; unpaid costs after December 31 may be added to property taxes.Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025 (consolidated to July 27, 2026), Part 4, ss. 4.1-4.8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
may issue to the owner or occupier of the
If a request for consideration is made within 7 days of receipt
within 21 days of receipt
at the expense of the owner or occupier, enter onto the Property
If costs under Section 4.7 are not paid by December 31
FineBylaw notice: $150 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $200 if paid after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $150. A court conviction carries a fine of $500 to $50,000.https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/, Schedule A7; Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B19; Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025 (consolidated to July 27, 2026), s. 5.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Vegetation to be unkempt or to
$150.00 $100.00 $200.00
Vegetation to be unkempt or to exceed 30 cm in height 3.2(b) $150.00
not less than five hundred dollars ($500) and not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)
BylawUnsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025 (consolidated to July 27, 2026), s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025

How it works

Under the Unsightly Premises Bylaw, the owner or occupier must not let a property become or remain unsightly. A bylaw officer who sees a breach can order it fixed in writing.

Steps

  1. Note the address, and the owner if you know it.
  2. Call Bylaw Services at 250-489-9598 or use the online contact form. Give your name, address and phone number, the address of concern, the owner if known, and details.
  3. If there is a breach, the officer may issue a written notice ordering the owner or occupier to fix it.
  4. A reconsideration request must be made within 7 days of receiving the notice. Unless the notice is cancelled, the work must be done within 21 days of receipt.
  5. If not, the City may do the work at the owner's expense. Unpaid costs after December 31 may be added to property taxes.

Good to know

  • The bylaw covers garbage, rubbish or discarded materials left outside; vegetation unkempt or over 30 cm high; more than one derelict vehicle visible from an adjacent property; noxious weeds; and graffiti visible from a highway or public place.
  • A notice is treated as received when handed over, 7 days after mailing to an owner in BC, 10 days after mailing to an owner outside BC, or 7 days after posting for an occupier.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Kimberley · Fernie · Canal Flats · Sparwood · Creston · Elkford

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 4206, 2025 (consolidated to July 27, 2026) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4049, 2021, Schedule A7 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Municipal Ticketing Information System Bylaw No. 3856, 2016, Schedule B19 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Request for Service, City of Cranbrook Bylaw Services (read 2026-11-05)
  5. https://cranbrook.civicweb.net/document/106176/ (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.