North Cowichan unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in North Cowichan?

North Cowichan, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

Short answer

In North Cowichan, report an unsightly or overgrown property to Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108, by email, or through the online violation form. You must give your name and contact details, because anonymous complaints are not considered.

Key facts

What counts	No owner or occupier may cause or permit a 'nuisance' on their property. Nuisance includes refuse or garbage that is noxious or offensive, unsanitary conditions, overgrown grass, weeds or trees, graffiti and unsightly conditions on property, accumulated water, smoke, dust or odour, and noise that disturbs. Noxious weeds (blueweed, garlic mustard, giant hogweed, gorse, knotweeds, poison hemlock, wild chervil) are handled separately. No one may cause or permit a hazardous (unsafe) condition.Nuisance Abatement, Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 3804, 2020, ss. 3.1, 4.1-4.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording refuse, garbage or other material that is noxious, offensive or unwholesome overgrown grass, weeds or trees graffiti and unsightly conditions on property No owner or occupier of real property shall cause or permit a nuisance on that real property No person shall cause or permit a hazardous condition
How to report	Use the online 'Report a bylaw violation' form, phone Bylaw Services at 250-746-3108, or email bylaw@northcowichan.ca. Complaints must include your name, address, phone or email, and your relationship to the property; anonymous or incomplete complaints are not considered. The Municipality suggests first trying to resolve it with the neighbour.Bylaw Services, Report a violation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Report a bylaw violation By phone: 250-746-3108 Incomplete forms and anonymous complaints will not be considered
What happens next	A Bylaw Compliance Officer investigates. For overgrown grass, weeds, trees, graffiti or litter the Manager issues a Weeds, Graffiti and Litter Order giving at least 5 business days. For other nuisances a Clean Up Order gives at least 30 days. Owners can ask for reconsideration (2 days before the deadline for weeds orders; 2 weeks before for Clean Up Orders, heard by Council). If not done, the District may do the work and charge the owner (15% admin on contractor costs); unpaid costs are added to property taxes.Nuisance Abatement, Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 3804, 2020, ss. 5.2-5.11; Nuisance properties, How are complaints handled? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Weeds, Graffiti and Litter Order no less than 5 business days to no less than 30 days to fulfill the requirement after administrative costs equal to 15% of the value of all contractor and agent invoices such costs may be recovered as property taxes in arrears a Bylaw Compliance Officer will be dispatched to investigate and determine if the complaint is founded
Fine	Cause a nuisance or permit one on your property: bylaw notice $200 ($100 if paid within 14 days; $220 after 28 days); municipal ticket $200 (each day can be a separate offence). Not complying with a Clean-Up Order: bylaw notice $300 ($150 early, $320 late); municipal ticket $200. Hazardous condition: bylaw notice $300.Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 3677, 2021, Schedule A, Nuisance Abatement; Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw, Schedule 2, Section 22; Nuisance properties, Fines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 4.1 Cause a nuisance $200 $100 $220 YES 4.2 Permit nuisance to occur on property $200 $100 $220 YES 4.3 Fail to comply with Clean-Up Order $300 $150 $320 Cause a nuisance 4.1 $200 Permit nuisance to occur on property 4.2 $200 each day that the offence exists constitutes and new and separate offence
Bylaw	Nuisance Abatement, Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 3804, 2020 (consolidated to May 8, 2025).Nuisance Abatement, Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 3804, 2020, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Nuisance Abatement Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw No. 3804, 2020

How it works

The Nuisance Abatement, Hazardous Conditions and Cost Recovery Bylaw says no owner or occupier may cause or permit a nuisance on their property. A nuisance includes noxious or offensive refuse or garbage, unsanitary conditions, overgrown grass, weeds or trees, graffiti and unsightly conditions, accumulated water, smoke, dust or odour, and noise that disturbs. No one may cause or permit a hazardous (unsafe) condition.

Noxious weeds (blueweed, garlic mustard, giant hogweed, gorse, knotweeds, poison hemlock, wild chervil) are handled separately by a Weed Control Officer.

Steps

The Municipality suggests first trying to resolve it with the neighbour.
Report it through the online "Report a bylaw violation" form, by phone at 250-746-3108, or by email to bylaw@northcowichan.ca.
Include your name, address, phone or email, and your relationship to the property. Anonymous or incomplete complaints are not considered.
A Bylaw Compliance Officer investigates. For overgrown grass, weeds, trees, graffiti or litter, the Manager issues a Weeds, Graffiti and Litter Order giving at least 5 business days. For other nuisances a Clean Up Order gives at least 30 days.

Good to know

Owners can ask for reconsideration: 2 days before the deadline for weeds orders, and 2 weeks before for Clean Up Orders (heard by Council).
If the work is not done, the Municipality may do it and charge the owner (15% administration on contractor costs). Unpaid costs are added to property taxes.
Causing or permitting a nuisance is $200 by bylaw notice ($100 if paid within 14 days, $220 after 28 days) or $200 by municipal ticket; each day can be a separate offence.
Not following a Clean-Up Order is $300 by bylaw notice ($150 early, $320 late) or $200 by municipal ticket. A hazardous condition is $300 by bylaw notice.