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

# North Vancouver unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In the City of North Vancouver, call Bylaw Services at 604-982-8302 or email bylaw@cnv.org to report rubbish, an untidy or unsightly property, or overgrown grass. Officers respond on a complaints basis. The bylaw notice is $150.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of North Vancouver, https://www.cnv.org)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for untidy or unsightly premises or an accumulation of rubbish $150 ($100 if paid early); failing to comply with an order $300.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-982-8302 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@cnv.org
- Online: CityFix app (best for graffiti, with a photo), https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Online-Services/CityFix

## Key facts

- **What counts:** No owner or occupier may let property become or stay untidy or unsightly, or let water, rubbish or noxious matter collect. They must remove accumulated filth and rubbish (including derelict or partly dismantled vehicles), prevent caterpillar infestation, clear brush and grass over 30 cm long, and not feed or allow birds to roost on buildings. Graffiti must be kept off (Graffiti Bylaw 6696).
  - Source: [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659 (consolidated), s. 3, s. 4](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "being the owner or occupier of real property shall allow such property to become" … "or to remain untidy or unsightly;" … "shall cause or permit water, rubbish or noxious or unwholesome matter to collect" … "who is the owner or occupier of real property shall clear such property of brush," … "grass in excess of 30 centimetres in length." … "any derelict or partially dismantled motor vehicle or parts thereof;"
  - Source: [Graffiti, Graffiti page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Enforcement/Graffiti)
  - Official wording: ""Every owner, or occupier, of real property shall at all times keep any wall, fence, building, structure, or thing that is located on such real property free of graffiti""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Phone Bylaw Services at 604-982-8302 (Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or email bylaw@cnv.org. Give your name, address, phone number, the location of the violation and a brief summary. Bylaw Officers respond on a complaints basis.
  - Source: [Report a Bylaw Infraction, Report a Bylaw Infraction page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Complaints)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw complaints may be made by either phone or email." … "Tel: 604-982-8302 | Monday to Friday, 8:30 - 5:00pm"
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Enforcement page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw Officers respond on a complaints basis and work with the resident or business owner to remedy the issue." … "Email: bylaw@cnv.org"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** A Nuisance Enforcement Officer may issue an Order to Comply, which can be appealed to Council within 15 days. If an order about filth, rubbish or caterpillars is not met in the time set, the City may enter and do the work at the owner's and occupier's expense; unpaid charges on December 31 are added to property taxes.
  - Source: [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659 (consolidated), s. 6, s. 7](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the Nuisance Enforcement Officer may, in accordance with this" … "Any such appeal shall be" … "brought within 15 days of the date of the issuance of the Order to Comply by" … "the Municipality by its employees and others may enter the real property" … "and perform the obligations at the expense of the owners and occupiers of the real" … "shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on that real property as taxes in arrears"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Untidy or unsightly premises: $150 (early $100, late $200); accumulation of rubbish: $150; failing to comply with an order: $300 (early $200, late $400). A compliance agreement can cut the first two to $75.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A, Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accumulation of Rubbish 3(a) Yes $150 $100 $200 $75" … "Untidy or Unsightly Premise 3(c) Yes $150 $100 $200 $75" … "Fail to Comply with Order 6 No $300 $200 $400 N/A"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659
  - Source: [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659 (consolidated), s. 1](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, No. 5659](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf) says no owner or occupier may let property become or stay untidy or unsightly, or let water, rubbish or noxious matter collect. They must remove accumulated filth and rubbish (including derelict or partly dismantled vehicles), prevent caterpillar infestation, clear brush and grass over 30 cm long, and not feed birds or allow them to roost on buildings.

## Steps

1. Call Bylaw Services at 604-982-8302 or email bylaw@cnv.org. Give your name, address, phone number, the location of the violation and a brief summary.
2. An officer follows up. Bylaw Officers respond on a complaints basis.
3. A Nuisance Enforcement Officer may issue an Order to Comply, which can be appealed to Council within 15 days.

## Good to know

- If an order about filth, rubbish or caterpillars is not met in the time set, the City may do the work at the owner's and occupier's expense. Unpaid charges on December 31 are added to property taxes.
- Bylaw notices: untidy or unsightly premises $150 ($100 if paid early, $200 late); accumulation of rubbish $150; failing to comply with an order $300. A compliance agreement can cut the first two to $75.
- Graffiti must be kept off property under the Graffiti Bylaw 6696. See the City's Graffiti page for how to report it.

## Official forms and pages

- [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659 (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf)
- [Graffiti page](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Enforcement/Graffiti)

## Related questions

- [North Vancouver bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/bylaw-fines.md)
- [North Vancouver garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [District of North Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/unsightly-property.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Moody](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/unsightly-property.md)
- [West Vancouver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/unsightly-property.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/unsightly-property.md)
- [Richmond](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Report a Bylaw Infraction, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Complaints) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Enforcement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Graffiti, City of North Vancouver](https://www.cnv.org/City-Hall/Bylaws/Bylaw-Enforcement/Graffiti) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw, 1986, No. 5659 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/5659-C.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2018, No. 8675, Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.cnv.org/-/media/City-of-North-Vancouver/Documents/Bylaws/Consolidated/8675-C.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 North Vancouver. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/unsightly-property/_