---
title: Creston unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Creston?"
place: Creston, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/creston
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Town of Creston
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Creston unsightly property rules and how to report

**Question:** How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Creston?

**Short answer:** In Creston, report an unsightly or overgrown property with the Town's Bylaw Complaint Form, online or at Town Hall. You must give your name, address and phone number; anonymous complaints are not accepted. Allowing an unsightly property is a $250 bylaw notice, and a lawn over 20 cm is $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices: unsightly property $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days, $275 if paid late); lawn over 20 cm $100 ($75, $125); inoperative vehicle, trailer or boat $150 ($125, $200).  
**How long:** The Town may give a written warning with 14 days to respond with a plan to fix the problem.  
**Where:**
- Online: Bylaw Complaint Form, https://www.creston.ca/complaints-and-claims
- In person: Town Hall, 238 - 10th Ave. N., Creston, BC
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let refuse or standing water collect, or let the property become unsightly (accumulated refuse or brush, graffiti, rotting fences, dead or uncontrolled landscaping, decayed buildings). Lawns must be 20 cm or shorter. No wrecked or inoperative vehicles, trailers or boats unless the property may lawfully be used for that.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813, ss. 4 (Unsightly), 5.1, 5.4, 6.3, 6.4](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Owner or Occupant of Property within the Municipality shall permit or allow the" … "the accumulation of Refuse, brush, discarded materials, water or Graffiti;" … "mow and maintain, at a height of not more than 20 centimetres, any lawn on the" … "wrecked, discarded, dismantled or inoperative condition to be parked, stored or left on" … "unless the Property may be lawfully used for that purpose"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Complete a Bylaw Complaint Form (online or at Town Hall) with your name, address, phone number and a description. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
  - Source: [Complaints and Claims, Complaints and Claims page](https://www.creston.ca/complaints-and-claims)
  - Official wording: "If you have a bylaw complaint complete a Bylaw Complaint Form." … "Anonymous complaints are not accepted."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** The Public Safety and Compliance Officer investigates and may issue a written warning (14 days to respond with a plan to fix), a fine or a compliance order. If the owner does not comply or win an appeal, the Town may issue a bylaw notice or do the work itself at the owner's cost.
  - Source: [Complaints and Claims, Complaints and Claims page, Complaint Process](https://www.creston.ca/complaints-and-claims)
  - Official wording: "The Public Safety and Compliance Officer will open an investigation in relation to the complaint." … "A warning notice with directions to remedy the problem within a specified time frame"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813, ss. 7.3(d), 8.1, 9.1, 9.2](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf)
  - Official wording: "give the Owner or Occupier fourteen (14) days after delivery of the Warning to" … "by submitting to the Town Manager written reasons for appeal, prior to the" … "carry out, in accordance with Section 17 of the Community Charter, the action" … "may be recovered as a debt from the Owner or Occupier"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: allow an unsightly property $250 ($225 if paid within 14 days; $275 if paid late). Lawn over 20 cm $100 ($75, $125); inoperative vehicle, trailer or boat $150 ($125, $200).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Property Maintenance Bylaw rows](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1813 5.4 Allow unsightly property $250.00 $225.00 $275.00 Yes" … "1813 6.4(a) Allow growth in excess of 20 cm $100.00 $75.00 $125.00 Yes" … "1813 6.3 Equipment/inoperative vehicle $150.00 $125.00 $200.00 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813, 2015
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813, s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813, 2015"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813](<https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf>) requires owners and occupiers not to let refuse or standing water collect, or let the property become unsightly. Unsightly includes accumulated refuse or brush, graffiti, rotting fences, dead or uncontrolled landscaping and decayed buildings. Lawns must be 20 cm or shorter. Wrecked or inoperative vehicles, trailers or boats are not allowed unless the property may lawfully be used for that.

## Steps

1. Fill in the Bylaw Complaint Form online or at Town Hall, with your name, address, phone number and a description. Complaints are not logged through the info@creston.ca email.
2. The Public Safety and Compliance Officer investigates and may issue a written warning (14 days to respond with a plan to fix), a fine or a compliance order.
3. If the owner does not comply or win an appeal, the Town may issue a bylaw notice or do the work itself at the owner's cost.

## Good to know

- Also required: removing dead, diseased or damaged trees and plants, keeping hedges from blocking sight lines or hydrants, keeping boulevards clear and mowed, and controlling pests and vermin.
- Yard waste counts as refuse unless it is a structured, well-maintained compost pile.
- Unpaid clean-up costs not paid by December 31 can be added to the property taxes.
- Other bylaw notices: refuse or water collecting $100; graffiti $75; litter $75; pest infestation $250.
- The Town's website gives no bylaw complaint phone number. Call Town Hall at 250-428-2214 to ask.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Creston bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Creston RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Creston noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Salmo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/salmo/unsightly-property.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/unsightly-property.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/unsightly-property.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/unsightly-property.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1813 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2023-08/Property%20Maintenance-1813.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Complaints and Claims, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/complaints-and-claims) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Report an Issue, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/report-issue) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Directory, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/contact-directory-0) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/unsightly-property/_