---
title: Dawson Creek unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "What can I do about an unsightly property, tall grass or a derelict vehicle next door in Dawson Creek?"
place: Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/dawson-creek
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Dawson Creek
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Dawson Creek unsightly property rules and how to report

**Question:** What can I do about an unsightly property, tall grass or a derelict vehicle next door in Dawson Creek?

**Short answer:** Dawson Creek's Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 bans unsightly property, rubbish, and grass or weeds over 30 cm (12 inches). Report it to Bylaw Enforcement at 250-784-3657, by email, or with the online Service Request form. The City usually asks for voluntary compliance first, then orders a fix in 14 days.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $250 for unsightly property, rubbish or noxious matter; $125 for tall grass. If the City cleans up, it bills its actual cost plus a $200 administrative cost ($100 for tall grass).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-784-3657
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca
- Online: Place a Service Request, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/place-a-service-request/

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let their property, including the boulevard, become or remain unsightly; must remove unsightly accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti; must not let refuse or noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter collect; and must not let grass or weeds grow past 12 inches (30 cm). Derelict vehicles, boats and trailers that cause a nuisance or make the property unsightly are also covered.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated), s. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.11, 3.14](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier of property within the City will permit the property, including the boulevard(s), to become or remain unsightly." … "any unsightly accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish, or graffiti." … "No owner or occupier of property within the City will cause or permit refuse or other noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter to collect or accumulate" … "to grow beyond 12 inches (30 cm) in height." … "storage or accumulation of a derelict vehicle or parts of a derelict vehicle, wrecked, broken or dismantled trailer, boat"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Use the City's online Service Request form, email bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca or phone 250-784-3657. You must give your name (anonymous complaints are not accepted); have the property address, the date first seen and a detailed description ready.
  - Source: [Place a Service Request, Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/place-a-service-request/)
  - Official wording: "Tall grass or overgrown properties - Unsightly properties" … "Email: bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca Phone: 250-784-3657"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw complaint or infraction](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "You must identify yourself when making the complaint. We will not accept anonymous complaints." … "address of property involved"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** The City usually seeks voluntary compliance first (a talk, then a warning letter with a compliance date). An order to fix unsightly property or tall grass gives 14 days; the owner may ask to be heard (Council for unsightly property, the Director for tall grass). If not done the City may do it and bill the owner ($200 admin cost, $100 for tall grass, plus actual cost); unpaid costs at December 31 go on the tax bill.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated), s. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.12, 7.13 and Schedule A](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "remedy unsightliness on the property within fourteen (14) days;" … "opportunity to be heard by Council in respect of the matter." … "recover the costs, including the administrative costs provided in Schedule" … "Obtain compliance regarding unsightly properties 7 $200.00" … "Obtain compliance regarding tall grass and weeds 7 $100.00" … "the costs will be added to, and form part of, the taxes payable on the property as taxes in arrears." … "advise the date the owner or occupier may apply to the Director of Development Services for an opportunity to be heard in respect of the matter." … "advise the date the owner or occupier may apply to the Director of Corporate Administration for an opportunity to be heard by Council in respect of the matter."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw enforcement measures](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "warning letters will be: - mailed to residences - hand delivered - or left on vehicles"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Unsightly property (s. 3.1): bylaw notice $250 ($200 if paid within 14 days; $300 if late); municipal ticket $500. Rubbish, graffiti or noxious matter accumulating (s. 3.2, 3.3): bylaw notice $250. Tall grass (s. 3.14): bylaw notice $125 ($100 within 14 days; $150 late).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B, Schedule B, Property Maintenance Bylaw](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4190 3.1 unsightly 250 200 300 Yes" … "3.2 graffiti on premises 250 200 300 Yes" … "4190 3.14 Permit tall grass 125 100 150 Yes"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278, Schedule M](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "4190 3.1 Permit property to become/remain unsightly 500"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated), s. 1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "PROPERTY MAINTENANCE BYLAW NO. 4190, 2013"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534>) requires owners and occupiers in Dawson Creek not to let their property, including the boulevard, become or remain unsightly. They must remove accumulations of filth, discarded materials, rubbish or graffiti, must not let refuse or noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter collect, and must not let grass or weeds grow past 12 inches (30 cm). Derelict vehicles, boats and trailers that cause a nuisance or make the property unsightly are also covered. Insect infestations and smelly compost are covered too.

## Steps

1. Report it with the City's online Service Request form, by email at bylaw@dawsoncreek.ca, or by phone at 250-784-3657.
2. Give your name. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
3. Have the property address, the date you first saw the problem and a detailed description ready.

## Good to know

- The City usually seeks voluntary compliance first: a conversation, then a warning letter with a compliance date.
- If that fails, an order to fix unsightly property or tall grass gives 14 days. The owner may ask to be heard: by Council for unsightly property, and by the Director of Development Services for tall grass.
- If the work is not done, the City may do it and bill the owner its actual cost plus $200 ($100 for tall grass). Unpaid costs at December 31 go on the tax bill.
- Fines: bylaw notice $250 ($200 within 14 days; $300 late) for unsightly property, and $250 for rubbish, graffiti or noxious matter. Tall grass is $125 ($100 within 14 days; $150 late). A municipal ticket for unsightly property is $500.
- Under [Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery Bylaw 4643](<https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/164903>), Council can declare a property a Nuisance Property (at least four nuisances in six months) and charge the owner the City's and RCMP's costs.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
- [Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery Bylaw 4643 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/164903)
- [Place a Service Request](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/place-a-service-request/)

## Related questions

- [Dawson Creek bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Dawson Creek noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/unsightly-property.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/unsightly-property.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/unsightly-property.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/unsightly-property.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Nuisance Abatement Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 4643, 2026 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/164903) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 4277, Schedule B (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 4278 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/our-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Place a Service Request, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/home-property-utilities/place-a-service-request/) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/unsightly-property/_