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

# Nanaimo unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** Report an unsightly or overgrown property in Nanaimo to Bylaw Regulation and Security at 250-755-4422 or bylaw.info@nanaimo.ca. The Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 7242 covers rubbish, graffiti, standing water, noxious weeds and overgrowth.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Nanaimo, https://www.nanaimo.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket $150 for most offences; $200 for graffiti or obstructing an officer. Early payment $112.50 and $150 (Bylaw 7159).  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Regulation and Security, 250-755-4422 (Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Information, bylaw.info@nanaimo.ca
- Online: Bylaw Complaint Form, https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/city-bylaws/bylaw-complaints/how-to-make-a-bylaw-complaint

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let rubbish (garbage, discarded items, derelict vehicles and boats, yard waste piles) collect or overflow a container, let water accumulate, or let graffiti stay visible from a neighbouring property or public place. They must remove noxious weeds (Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, Canada thistle, giant hogweed, knotweed, Scotch broom), nuisance brush or overgrowth, and tent caterpillar or fall webworm infestations. Temporary shelters (tents, tarps) for sleeping or camping are not allowed.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242, ss. 4-7](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf)
  - Official wording: "cause or permit rubbish to collect or accumulate on or around lands or buildings" … "cause or permit graffiti to accumulate or remain on any fence, surface, or structure" … "which is visible from an adjacent property or public place." … "remove from the entire property all noxious weeds and all brush or overgrowth" … "infestations of tent caterpillars and fall web worm." … "Himalayan blackberries, English ivy, Canada thistle, giant" … "erect or occupy a temporary" … "shelter for the purposes of transitory, short-term, interim or permanent lodging"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact the Bylaw, Regulation and Security Division between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays: 250-755-4422, fax 250-755-4432, bylaw.info@nanaimo.ca.
  - Source: [Unsightly Property Bylaw, web page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/city-bylaws/bylaw-complaints/unsightly-property-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Should you wish to report an unsightly property, please contact us between 8:00am and 4:30pm weekdays at:" … "Bylaw, Regulation and Security Division 250-755-4422"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** A bylaw officer investigates; if the complaint is verified, a letter directs the owner to fix it. If not done within 21 days of the letter (and no appeal), the City or its agents may enter and do the work. The owner can appeal in writing to the Corporate Officer within 14 days of the letter; no action until Council decides. Costs are billed to the owner as a debt; unpaid by December 31, they are added to property taxes.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242, s. 8](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a letter may be issued directing the property owner to rectify the contravention." … "Where, after the expiry of 21 days from the date of the letter, the property owner" … "has failed to comply with the requirements set out in the letter and has not" … "prior to the expiration of 14 days from the date of the letter directing that the" … "recoverable as a debt." … "If the costs are unpaid by December 31st in the same year, the costs will be added"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Rubbish, standing water, overflowing containers, or construction waste: $150 (early $112.50, late $187.50). Graffiti: $200 (early $150, late $250). Failing to clear noxious weeds or overgrowth, remove infestation, or allowing temporary shelter: $150. Obstructing an officer: $200.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159, Schedule A, Schedule A, Property Maintenance Bylaw](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf)
  - Official wording: "4.1 Cause or permit rubbish to collect 150.00 112.50 187.50" … "4.5 Cause or permit graffiti to accumulate 200.00 150.00 250.00" … "5.1 Fail to clear noxious weeds, brush or 150.00 112.50 187.50" … "7.1 Allow temporary shelter 150.00 112.50 187.50"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242, s. 1](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as “PROPERTY MAINTENANCE AND STANDARDS BYLAW" … "2017 NO. 7242”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf), owners and occupiers in the City of Nanaimo must not let rubbish (garbage, discarded items, derelict vehicles and boats, yard waste piles) collect or overflow a container, let water accumulate, or leave graffiti visible from a neighbouring property or public place. They must remove noxious weeds (Himalayan blackberry, English ivy, Canada thistle, giant hogweed, knotweed, Scotch broom), nuisance brush or overgrowth, and tent caterpillar or fall webworm infestations. Tents or tarps used as sleeping or camping shelters are not allowed.

## Steps

1. Contact Bylaw Regulation and Security (weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by phone at 250-755-4422 or at bylaw.info@nanaimo.ca, with the address and what you see.
2. A bylaw officer investigates. If the complaint is verified, a letter directs the owner to fix it.

## Good to know

- The owner can appeal in writing to the Corporate Officer within 14 days of the letter; no action is taken until Council decides.
- If the work is not done within 21 days of the letter and there is no appeal, the City or its agents may enter and do it.
- The City bills the owner as a debt. Costs unpaid by December 31 are added to property taxes.
- Tickets: $150 for rubbish, standing water, overflowing containers, construction waste, uncleared weeds or overgrowth, infestations, or temporary shelters (early $112.50, late $187.50). Graffiti is $200 (early $150, late $250), as is obstructing an officer.
- Demolition or construction waste counts only where a building permit has been issued.

## Official forms and pages

- [Unsightly Property Bylaw page](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/city-bylaws/bylaw-complaints/unsightly-property-bylaw)
- [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 7242 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf)
- [Nuisance Abatement and Cost Recovery Bylaw 7250 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7250.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Nanaimo bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Nanaimo noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/unsightly-property.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/unsightly-property.md)
- [Parksville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/unsightly-property.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/unsightly-property.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lake Cowichan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-cowichan/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Unsightly Property Bylaw, City of Nanaimo](https://www.nanaimo.ca/public-safety/city-bylaws/bylaw-complaints/unsightly-property-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance and Standards Bylaw 2017 No. 7242 (PDF)](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7242.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2012 No. 7159 (PDF), Schedule A](https://www.nanaimo.ca/bylaws/ViewBylaw/7159.pdf) (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 Nanaimo. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/unsightly-property/_