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

# Golden unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Golden, report an unsightly or overgrown property to Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234 or with the online complaint form. Under the Property Maintenance Bylaw an officer can order the owner to fix it. An unsightly property notice is $300.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice: unsightly property $300 ($280 if paid within 14 days, $320 after 28 days). Failing to cut grass $50. Court: up to $10,000.  
**How long:** Allow up to seven business days for a response. An order must be met in the time stated, or within 30 days if none is stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-344-2271 ext. 234
- Online: Report a bylaw violation, https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement
- In person: Town Hall (complaint form), 810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC

## Key facts

- **What counts:** An owner or occupant must not let the property become unsightly (cluttered, dilapidated, unclean or neglected) or let rubbish, broken furniture or appliances, vehicle parts, unused wood, or idle construction materials pile up. Also banned: standing water, noxious weeds, graffiti, grass over 30 cm (Apr. 30 to Sept. 30), and more than two unlicensed vehicles, one derelict vehicle or one inoperative trailer or vessel.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011, s. 3(4), 4(1)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "must not cause, permit, suffer or allow the land, property or premises to become or" … "cluttered, dilapidated, disorganized, unclean, or in" … "more than two unlicensed vehicles" … "ensure that lawn grass is trimmed so that its height does not exceed 30 centimetres"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Contact Bylaw Enforcement: use the online complaint form (Report a Bylaw Violation), email, or call 250-344-2271 ext. 234, or pick up a form at Town Hall. Allow up to seven business days for a response.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Inquiries & Complaints](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-344-2271 ext. 234" … "Fill out or pick up a form in person at Town Hall." … "please allow up to seven business days for a response"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can issue a written order. The owner must fix it in the time stated, or within 30 days if none is stated. The owner can ask Council to review at least 5 business days before the deadline. Otherwise the Town may do the work at the owner's cost, plus $100 for every ten days after the order expires.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011, s. 4(1)(b), 5(2), 6(1), 7(2)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "within 30 days following the date the order was mailed or otherwise" … "seek review by Council" … "may recover the costs" … "an administrative charge of $100 for every ten days following the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: unsightly property $300 ($280 if paid within 14 days; $320 after 28 days). Accumulating rubbish or other listed items $300; failing to cut grass $50; failing to comply with an order $100. Court: up to $10,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice and Adjudication System Bylaw No. 1475, 2022, Schedule N (Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011)](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/)
  - Official wording: "Unsightly property $300.00 $280.00 $320.00" … "Fail to cut grass $50.00 $30.00 $70.00" … "Fail to comply with order $100.00 $80.00 $120.00"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011, s. 8(5)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable to pay a fine of up to" … "Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011, s. 1](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Property Maintenance Bylaw No.1287, 2011"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011](<https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf>) says an owner or occupant must not let the property become unsightly (cluttered, dilapidated, unclean or neglected). It also bans piles of rubbish, broken furniture or appliances, vehicle parts, unused wood and idle construction materials. Other banned items are standing water, noxious weeds, graffiti, grass over 30 cm (April 30 to September 30), and more than two unlicensed vehicles, one derelict vehicle, or one inoperative trailer or vessel. Farm business in farm-use areas is exempt.

## Steps

1. Report it to Bylaw Enforcement: use the online complaint form, email, call 250-344-2271 ext. 234, or pick up a form at Town Hall.
2. Allow up to seven business days for a response.
3. An officer can issue a written order. The owner must fix the problem in the time stated, or within 30 days if none is stated.
4. The owner can ask Council to review the order at least 5 business days before the deadline.

## Good to know

- If the work is not done, the Town may do it at the owner's cost, plus $100 for every ten days after the order expires.
- Bylaw notices: unsightly property $300; accumulating rubbish or other listed items $300; failing to cut grass $50; failing to comply with an order $100.
- A court can fine up to $10,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/unsightly-property.md)
- [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/unsightly-property.md)
- [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/unsightly-property.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/unsightly-property.md)
- [Sicamous](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sicamous/unsightly-property.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1287, 2011 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-1287-2011-Property-Maintenance-%281%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, Town of Golden](https://www.golden.ca/town-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice and Adjudication System Bylaw No. 1475, 2022](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/) (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 Town of Golden. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/unsightly-property/_