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

# Lions Bay unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Lions Bay, report an unsightly or overgrown property to Bylaw Services in writing, using the online complaint form, bylaw@lionsbay.ca, or a letter to the Village Office. You must give your name, address, contact information and your relationship to the property.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Lions Bay, https://www.lionsbay.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice: $200 for an unsightly parcel, accumulation, stagnant water, rubbish in view or unsafe fence; $100 for graffiti, building materials, stored vehicles, or failing to clear accumulations, weeds or grass.  
**How long:** An Order to Comply gives 14 days to fix the problem, or 3 days if it is a nuisance.  
**Where:**
- Email: Bylaw Services (complaints in writing), bylaw@lionsbay.ca
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-834-3404
- In person: Village Office, 400 Centre Road, Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0 (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **What counts:** An owner must not let a parcel become or stay unsightly or a nuisance. Examples: accumulated rubbish, scrap, appliances, tires or vehicle parts in view; stagnant water; graffiti; building materials left over 15 days without a permit; unlicensed or inoperable vehicles; an unsafe or unsightly fence; brush, noxious weeds, or grass over 30 cm; a nuisance outdoor light.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412, 2009, s. 5.1, 5.2](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Owner may allow a parcel owned by the Owner to become or remain unsightly." … "no Owner in respect of a parcel of the Owner may cause, allow or permit the" … "accumulation of building materials on the parcel for more than 15 days unless:" … "clear the parcel of brush, noxious weeds listed in Schedule “A”, and of grass in" … "excess of 30 centimetres in length;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** In writing: the online complaint or witness form, email to bylaw@lionsbay.ca, or a letter to Bylaw Services at the Village Office. You must give your name, address, contact information and your relationship to the property. Phone Bylaw Services at 604-834-3404 if timing matters.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, intro](https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Complaints should be made in writing using our online complaint or witness form," … "or by email to bylaw@lionsbay.ca" … "calling Bylaw Services at 604-834-3404"
  - Source: [Making a Complaint, Bylaw Infractions](https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/making-complaint)
  - Official wording: "you must provide your name, address and contact information"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** An enforcement officer may serve an Order to Comply: 14 days to fix it, or 3 days if a nuisance. The owner may appeal to Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline. If not done, the Village may do the work at the owner's cost, and unpaid costs after December 31 go on the property taxes.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412, 2009, s. 7.1, 7.2, 7.3](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Enforcement officer may, serve on such person an Order to Comply which requires" … "three days if the Enforcement officer believes the contravention is a nuisance" … "appeal to the Council who must hear" … "at least 72 hours prior to the expiry of the time given" … "perform the obligations at the expense of the person defaulting." … "the cost shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the parcel as taxes in arrears."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $200 ($185 if paid within 14 days, $215 after 28 days) for allowing an unsightly parcel or accumulation, stagnant water, rubbish in view, or an unsafe fence. $100 ($90, $110) for graffiti, building materials, stored vehicles, failing to remove accumulations or clear weeds and grass.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385, 2006, Schedule A, Schedule A, Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Allow unsightly parcel $200 $185 $215 YES" … "Place graffiti $100 $90 $110 YES" … "Fail to clear parcel of brush, noxious weeds $100 $90 $110" … "Fail to repair or remove fence $200 $185 $215 YES"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Good Neighbour Bylaw No 412, 2009.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412, 2009, s. 1.1](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “Good Neighbour Bylaw No 412, 2009.”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412](<https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf>) says an owner must not let a parcel become or stay unsightly or a nuisance. Examples include accumulated rubbish, scrap, appliances, tires or vehicle parts in view; stagnant water; graffiti; building materials left over 15 days without a permit; unlicensed or inoperable vehicles; an unsafe or unsightly fence; brush, noxious weeds, or grass over 30 cm; and a nuisance outdoor light. Items in a closed building not visible from another parcel or a public place are not caught by the rubbish rule.

## Steps

1. Report in writing: use the online complaint or witness form, email bylaw@lionsbay.ca, or write to Bylaw Services at the Village Office.
2. Give your name, address, contact information and your relationship to the property.
3. Phone Bylaw Services at 604-834-3404 if timing matters.
4. An enforcement officer may serve an Order to Comply.

## Good to know

- An Order to Comply gives the owner 14 days to fix it, or 3 days if it is a nuisance. The owner may appeal to Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline.
- If the work is not done, the Village may do it at the owner's cost. Unpaid costs after December 31 go on the property taxes.
- Bylaw notice fines ([Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw](<https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf>)): $200 ($185 if paid within 14 days, $215 after 28 days) for an unsightly parcel or accumulation, stagnant water, rubbish in view or an unsafe fence. $100 ($90, $110) for graffiti, building materials, stored vehicles, or failing to remove accumulations or clear weeds and grass.
- The bylaw itself sets a court fine of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412, 2009 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385, 2006, Schedule A (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf)
- [Making a Complaint, Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/making-complaint)

## Related questions

- [Lions Bay bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Lions Bay noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/noise-rules.md)
- [Lions Bay backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/backyard-fire.md)
- [Lions Bay garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/unsightly-property.md)
- [Bowen Island](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/unsightly-property.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/unsightly-property.md)
- [North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/unsightly-property.md)
- [Gibsons](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/unsightly-property.md)
- [Squamish](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/squamish/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 412, 2009 (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2022-01/bylaw_412_-_good_neighbour_2009.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 385, 2006, Schedule A (PDF), Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/sites/2/files/2026-06/Bylaw%20385%20-Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%20%28Consolidation%20640%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Making a Complaint, Village of Lions Bay](https://www.lionsbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/making-complaint) (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 Village of Lions Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/unsightly-property/_