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Metchosin unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Metchosin?

Metchosin, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In Metchosin, report an unsightly property through the Contact Us form on the District's website (choose "Bylaw") or call Municipal Hall at 250-474-3167. The Unsightly Premises Bylaw covers rubbish and unsightly premises. It does not mention overgrown grass. The ticket is $250.

Key facts

What countsOwners and occupiers must not let filth, discarded materials or rubbish collect around their premises, and must not let the premises become or stay unsightly from public view. No one may put graffiti on walls or fences, or throw bottles, broken glass or rubbish in open space. Discarded materials include unused or stripped vehicles, trailers and boats not stored in a manner that denotes value.Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2004, No. 474, ss. 2-3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No owner or occupier of a real property shall cause or permit filth, discarded materials or
rubbish to collect or accumulate around their premises
unsightly from public view.
means visible from a highway or by occupants of adjacent property.
No person shall place graffiti on walls, fences or elsewhere on or adjacent to a public
not stored in a manner that denotes value
How to reportUse the online inquiry form on the District's Contact Us page (choose "Bylaw") or call Municipal Hall at 250-474-3167. Officers enter premises "upon a complaint".Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2004, No. 474, s. 6; Contact Us | District of Metchosin, Contact Us form; Contact Us · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Every bylaw enforcement officer is hereby authorized to enter, upon a complaint any premises in
General InquiryBylawPublic WorksReport a Problem
| MUNICIPAL HALL 4450 Happy Valley Road Victoria BC V9C 3Z3 Tel: 250-474-3167 Fax: 250-474-6298 | General Correspondence info@metchosin.ca
What happens nextThe bylaw requires owners to remove unsightly accumulations at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner. If they do not, the District may enter and remove them at the owner's expense; unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes.Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2004, No. 474, ss. 4-5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
shall remove from it any unsightly
and the charges for doing so, if unpaid on December 31st in any year, shall be added to
FineMunicipal ticket (Schedule 2): $250 for accumulated rubbish, an unsightly property, graffiti, depositing rubbish or failing to remove rubbish.Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, Schedule 2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
1. Accumulated Rubbish 3(1) $250
2. Unsightly Property 3(2) $250
BylawUnsightly Premises Bylaw, 2004, No. 474Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2004, No. 474, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Unsightly Premises Bylaw, 2004, No. 474

How it works

The Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 474 says owners and occupiers must not let filth, discarded materials or rubbish collect around their premises, and must not let the premises become or stay unsightly from public view. No one may put graffiti on walls or fences, or throw bottles, broken glass or rubbish in open space. Discarded materials include unused or stripped vehicles, trailers and boats not stored in a manner that denotes value. The bylaw does not mention overgrown grass or vegetation.

Steps

  1. Use the online inquiry form on the District's Contact Us page and choose "Bylaw", or call Municipal Hall at 250-474-3167.
  2. Officers enter premises upon a complaint.

Good to know

  • Owners must remove unsightly accumulations at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner. If they do not, the District may enter and remove them at the owner's expense. Unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes.
  • The bylaw sets no notice step and no fixed time to comply.
  • A municipal ticket is $250.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Colwood · Langford · View Royal · Sooke · Esquimalt · Victoria

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Unsightly Premises Bylaw 2004, No. 474, District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 2004, No. 475, District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Contact Us, District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Contact Us | District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.