Elkford unsightly property rules and how to report
How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Elkford?
Short answer
In Elkford, an owner or occupier must not let a property become unsightly or overgrown. Report it to the Bylaw Enforcement Officer online, at 250-865-4024, or at bylaw@elkford.ca.
Key facts
| What counts | An owner or occupier must not let a property become so unsightly that as a whole it appears unkempt or in disrepair, for example accumulated refuse, derelict vehicles, dead shrubs or trees, broken windows, or buildings with holes, rot or substantially peeled paint. Weeds and grass over 20.32 cm (8 inches) are banned except in April and May; noxious weeds, standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and graffiti are also banned.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 4.1; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 4.2, 4.3, 4.4; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 5.1, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo owner or Occupier shall cause or permit their Property to become or remain Unsightly to the accumulation of Refuse, discarded or recyclable materials, appliances, machinery, dead shrubs or trees broken windows in a Building or other Structure such an extent that as a whole it appears unkempt, unmaintained, Dilapidated or in disrepair water to collect or accumulate in an in excess of 90 No person shall vandalize, cause damage or place Graffiti upon any Public Place. in excess of 20.32 cm (8 inches) in height except during the months of April and May in each year No owner or Occupier of Property shall permit Noxious Weeds to grow or accumulate |
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| How to report | Contact the Bylaw Enforcement Officer: online Bylaw Infraction Reporting form, 250-865-4024, or bylaw@elkford.ca.Bylaws Enforcement, Bylaw Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingReports can be filed by contacting the Bylaw Enforcement Officer using the button above, calling 250-865-4024 or at bylaw@elkford.ca. |
| What happens next | The Bylaw Enforcement Officer may ask Council to impose a Remedial Action Requirement (Community Charter ss. 72 to 74), with notice to affected persons and a right to reconsideration. If the owner does not comply, the District may do the work and charge the cost; unpaid costs after December 31 of that year may be collected as taxes in arrears. Officers may also issue a municipal ticket. Officers must take reasonable steps to tell the owner before entering property and, for a private dwelling, need consent, 72 hours' written notice, a warrant, or a safety risk.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 8.1, 8.4; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe Bylaw Enforcement Officer may request that Council impose a Remedial Action If such costs remain unpaid by December 31 of the year in which they are owing, the by means of a ticket in the form prescribed for that purpose by the Community Charter must take reasonable steps to advise the owner or occupier before entering the the District has given the occupier at least 72 hours' written notice of the entry |
| Fine | Not confirmed. The ticket schedule is a scanned document that could not be read. |
| Bylaw | Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022 (s. 4 Unsightly Property, s. 5 Plants and Vegetation).Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as "Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022". |
How it works
The Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022 (s. 4 and s. 5) says an owner or occupier must not let a property become so unsightly that as a whole it appears unkempt or in disrepair. Examples are accumulated refuse, derelict vehicles, dead shrubs or trees, broken windows, and buildings with holes, rot or substantially peeled paint. Weeds and grass over 20.32 cm (8 inches) are banned except in April and May. Noxious weeds, standing water where mosquitoes can breed, and graffiti are also banned.
Steps
- Report it with the online Bylaw Infraction Reporting form on the bylaws page, or contact the Bylaw Enforcement Officer at 250-865-4024 or bylaw@elkford.ca.
- The officer may ask Council to impose a Remedial Action Requirement (Community Charter ss. 72 to 74). Affected persons get notice and a right to reconsideration.
- If the owner does not comply, the District may do the work and charge the cost. Costs unpaid after December 31 of that year may be collected as taxes in arrears.
Good to know
- Officers may also issue a municipal ticket. The ticket schedule is a scanned document we could not read, so no amount is given.
- Officers must take reasonable steps to tell the owner before entering property. For a private dwelling they need consent, 72 hours' written notice, a warrant, or a safety risk.
- The bylaw sets no fixed number of days to comply.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Sparwood · Canal Flats · Fernie · Cranbrook · Kimberley · Invermere
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 871, 2022 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaws Enforcement, District of Elkford (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.