---
title: Fort St. John unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Fort St. John?"
place: Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fort-st-john
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Fort St. John
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Fort St. John unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** Report it to Bylaw Services at the City of Fort St. John by calling 250-787-8150 or using the Report a Problem form. The Property Standards Bylaw 2434 covers grass over 20 cm, weeds, litter, junk and derelict vehicles. Most bylaw notices are $200.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Fort St. John, https://www.fortstjohn.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notices are mostly $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31–60); $300 for a dilapidated or unsafe structure. If the City cleans up, the owner pays its cost plus 15% administration on contractor invoices.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-787-8150 (Also 3-1-1.)
- Online: Report a Problem form, https://www.fortstjohn.ca/report-problem

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not allow outdoors on their premises: refuse, derelict vehicles, accumulated yard waste (grass clippings, cuttings, compost piles), weeds or growth that is a fire or health hazard, litter, grass over 20 cm high, or noxious weeds. Also: graffiti, building materials in view without a building permit, a destructive insect infestation, and fences or building exteriors in disrepair. Boulevards must be kept clear and cut.
  - Source: [Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018, ss. 11, 13-14, 16-17, 19, 3 ("Overgrown")](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier of a premise or premises shall allow the following to be" … "an accumulation of yard waste, including an accumulation of grass" … "grasses that are more than 20cm in height" … "The owner or occupier of a parcel abutting a boulevard must maintain the boulevard" … "No person shall place graffiti on the exterior of any building"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 250-787-8150 or use the Report a Problem form. Include the property address. Complaints must include your full name, address and phone number; they are kept confidential unless court proceedings require disclosure, and anonymous complaints are not investigated.
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, Reporting a Bylaw Infraction](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services)
  - Official wording: "calling 250-787-8150 or complete the Report a Problem form" … "If the concern relates to a private property providing the address is essential"
  - Source: [Bylaw Services Frequently Asked Questions, Anonymous complaints](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services-frequently-asked-questions)
  - Official wording: "must provide their full name, address and phone number"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** For weeds, tall grass and litter an inspector may issue a written order without prior notice giving at least 7 calendar days. For other problems the inspector gives notice, then may issue a Clean Up Order giving at least 30 days; the owner may ask Council to reconsider. If the order is not met, the City may do the work and recover its cost plus 15% administration on contractor invoices, added to property taxes if unpaid by December 31.
  - Source: [Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018, ss. 20-21, 22-24, 26, 29](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "no less than seven (7) calendar days to fulfill the requirement" … "Clean Up Order" … "no less than thirty (30) days to fulfill" … "administrative costs equal to 15% of the value of all contractor and agent" … "may be recovered as property taxes in arrears"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: most offences $200 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 on days 31–60). Dilapidated or unsafe structure $300. Building materials in view, prohibited sales and failure to cut grass have a $100 early amount. A compliance agreement is available for most.
  - Source: [Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018, Schedule A](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Accumulation of refuse" … "Failure to cut grass" … "Dilapidated or unsafe structure" … "200" … "150" … "250"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018
  - Source: [Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018, s. 1](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Property Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Property Standards Bylaw 2434](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw), owners and occupiers in Fort St. John must not allow certain things outdoors on their premises, and boulevards must be kept clear and cut. Bylaw Services investigates complaints.

## Steps

1. Note the property address and what you see.
2. Call 250-787-8150 or use the Report a Problem form. Give your full name, address and phone number; complaints are kept confidential unless court proceedings require disclosure, and anonymous complaints are not investigated.
3. For weeds, tall grass and litter an inspector may issue a written order without prior notice, giving at least 7 calendar days. For other problems the inspector gives notice, then may issue a Clean Up Order giving at least 30 days; the owner may ask Council to reconsider.
4. If the order is not met, the City may do the work and recover its cost. Unpaid amounts on December 31 are added to property taxes.

## Good to know

- Covered: refuse, derelict vehicles, accumulated yard waste (grass clippings, cuttings, compost piles), weeds or growth that is a fire or health hazard, litter, grass over 20 cm high, noxious weeds, graffiti, building materials in view without a building permit, insect infestations, and fences or building exteriors in disrepair.
- Items offered for sale more than 14 days in a residential zone are also covered. Garage sales of up to two days, twice a month, are excepted.
- Items removed by the City may be disposed of after 30 days, sold or auctioned.
- A compliance agreement is available for most offences.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Standards Bylaw 2434, 2018 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw)

## Related questions

- [Fort St. John bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Dawson Creek](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/unsightly-property.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/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 Standards Bylaw No. 2434, 2018 (PDF)](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/media/file/property-standards-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services Frequently Asked Questions, City of Fort St. John](https://www.fortstjohn.ca/municipal-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services-frequently-asked-questions) (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 Fort St. John. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/unsightly-property/_