---
title: Fort St James unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Fort St James?"
place: Fort St James, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-james
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Fort St James
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Fort St James unsightly property rules and how to report

**Question:** How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Fort St James?

**Short answer:** In Fort St James, report an unsightly property to the District Office or through its online Comments and Complaints form. The Unsightly Premises Bylaw covers rubbish, derelict vehicles and grass over 25 cm. The ticket is $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Fort St James, https://www.fortstjames.ca)  
**Cost:** $100 ticket for unsightly premises; $200 for interfering with an officer.  
**How long:** The notice sets the time allowed to clean up; the bylaw does not fix a number of days.  
**Where:**
- In person: Municipal Hall, 477 Stuart Drive West, Fort St. James, BC V0J 1P0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: District Office, 250-996-8233

## Key facts

- **What counts:** An owner or occupier may not let property become or stay unsightly: dirty, unfinished, dilapidated, broken or leaning buildings or fences; graffiti; accumulations of rubbish; landscaping or construction materials with no work under way; indoor furniture, bedding or appliances stored outside; one or more derelict vehicles; uncontained compost piles; grass or vegetation over 25 cm; or noxious weeds.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018, ss. 4.9, 5](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "“Unsightly” means any of the following conditions on real property:" … "No owner or Occupier of real property shall cause or permit" … "overgrown vegetation or unmowed grass in excess of 25 centimetres in height"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Contact the District Office or complete the Comments and Complaints form. The District enforces bylaws on a complaint basis.
  - Source: [Bylaws and Policies, Bylaws & Policies page](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/bylaws-policies)
  - Official wording: "The District enforces bylaws on a complaint basis." … "To report a bylaw violation, please contact the District Office or complete a Comments and Complaints Form."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** An officer may give written notice (hand-delivered to the occupier or sent by registered mail to the owner) requiring the cleanup within a time stated in the notice. If it is not done, the District may do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense; unpaid costs on December 31 are added to property taxes as taxes in arrears.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018, ss. 9-12](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An Officer may issue a notice requiring the owner or Occupier of real property" … "the District of Fort St. James, by its employees or other person," … "the costs will be added to and form part of the taxes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** $100 for causing or permitting unsightly premises (ticket); $200 for interfering with an officer. Each day is a separate offence.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018, Sched. A](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Cause or permit Unsightly premises" … "$100" … "Interfere with an Officer" … "$200"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Fort St. James Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018, s. 1](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018](<https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf>) says an owner or occupier may not let property become or stay unsightly. That includes:

- dirty, unfinished, dilapidated, broken or leaning buildings or fences, and graffiti;
- accumulations of rubbish, and landscaping or construction materials with no work under way;
- indoor furniture, bedding or appliances stored outside;
- one or more derelict vehicles, and uncontained compost piles;
- grass or vegetation over 25 cm, and noxious weeds.

## Steps

1. Call the District Office at 250-996-8233, or complete the Comments and Complaints form on the District website. The District enforces bylaws on a complaint basis.
2. An officer may give written notice, hand-delivered to the occupier or sent by registered mail to the owner, requiring the cleanup within the time stated in the notice.
3. If it is not done, the District may do the work at the owner's or occupier's expense. Costs unpaid on December 31 are added to property taxes as taxes in arrears.

## Good to know

- The fine is $100 for causing or permitting unsightly premises, and $200 for interfering with an officer. Each day is a separate offence.
- The Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1002, 2018 separately covers neglected driveways and walkways, refuse, pests, odours and wildlife attractants.

## Official forms and pages

- [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf)
- [Bylaws and Policies, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/bylaws-policies)

## Related questions

- [Fort St James noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/noise-rules.md)
- [Fort St James backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/unsightly-property.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/unsightly-property.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/unsightly-property.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/unsightly-property.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 995, 2018 (PDF), District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/sites/default/files/2024-12/995%20Unsightly%20Premises%20Bylaw%202018.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Policies, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/government/bylaws-policies) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Fort St James](https://www.fortstjames.ca/contact-us) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Fort St James. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/unsightly-property/_