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

# Northern Rockies unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, call Bylaw Enforcement at 250.774.2541 option 5 to report an unsightly property. The Property Maintenance Bylaw covers rubbish, long-term wrecked vehicles and growth over 30 cm high. A bylaw notice is $200.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, https://www.northernrockies.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice: $200 ($180 if paid within 21 days, $220 after 32 days). Throwing rubbish or clippings: $250.  
**How long:** An Order to Comply gives 14 days to clear the property, or another reasonable time in special circumstances.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250.774.2541 option 5

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Within the bylaw's service area (Schedule A map), an owner or occupier must not let property, including the boulevard, become or stay unsightly. Unsightly includes wrecked or non-operational vehicles kept over a month, accumulated rubbish or discarded materials, uncontained compost, graffiti, and growth over 30 cm high. Insect infestations must be cleared.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 2 Unsightly, s. 3(a)-(c)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier of real property shall allow his property, including the boulevard(s), to become or remain unsightly" … "dismantled, wrecked, or non operational vehicle for more than one month in any" … "Uncontained compost piles" … "Uncontrolled growth of vegetation, brush or grass in excess of 30 centimetres in" … "any infestations by caterpillars and other noxious or destructive insects" … "This bylaw shall apply to the geographic service area identified on the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250.774.2541 option 5.
  - Source: [Contact, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.northernrockies.ca/contact)
  - Official wording: "Phone 250.774.2541 option 5"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can serve an Order to Comply giving 14 days to clear the property (or another reasonable time in special circumstances). If it is not done, the municipality or a contractor can clear it at the owner's expense; unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes. The order can be appealed to Regional Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 4.1, 4.2, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)
  - Official wording: "within 14 days of service of such Order to Comply." … "may set a time to comply, other than 14" … "at the expense of the defaulting owner or occupier of" … "form part of the taxes payable on such property, as taxes in arrears." … "at least 72 hours prior to" … "the expiration of the time given in the Order to Comply"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: $200 ($180 if paid within 21 days; $220 after 32 days). Failing to remove weeds or growth over 30 cm is also $200; throwing rubbish or clippings is $250.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Property Maintenance](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/)
  - Official wording: "Unsightly Property or Premises 3(a) $200 $180 $220" … "Failure to Remove Noxious Weeds, 3(c) $200 $180 $220" … "Depositing or Throwing Rubbish, 3(d) $250 $225 $275"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (consolidated June 2018).
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)
  - Official wording: "Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009" … "Consolidated June 2018 for Ease of Use"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Under the [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/), an owner or occupier inside the service area (Schedule A map) must not let a property, including the boulevard, become or stay unsightly. That includes wrecked or non-operational vehicles kept over a month, accumulated rubbish or discarded materials, uncontained compost, graffiti, and growth over 30 cm high. Insect infestations must be cleared. The list is not complete.

## Steps

1. Call Bylaw Enforcement at 250.774.2541 option 5. No online form or complaint email was found.
2. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can serve an Order to Comply giving 14 days to clear the property.
3. If the work is not done, the municipality or a contractor can do it at the owner's expense. Unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes.

## Good to know

- An Order to Comply can be served by posting it on the property or mailing it. The owner can appeal to Regional Council in writing at least 72 hours before the deadline.
- The bylaw also bans burning household garbage, dust leaving the property, and pushing snow onto streets.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF)](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/)

## Related questions

- [Northern Rockies bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Northern Rockies noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/noise-rules.md)
- [Northern Rockies backyard fire and burning rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/backyard-fire.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Stewart](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/stewart/unsightly-property.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/unsightly-property.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/unsightly-property.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/unsightly-property.md)
- [Chetwynd](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/chetwynd/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/9576/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://www.northernrockies.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality](https://nr.civicweb.net/document/59372/) (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 Northern Rockies Regional Municipality. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/northern-rockies/unsightly-property/_