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Northern Rockies unsightly property rules and how to report

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

Northern Rockies, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

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.

Key facts

What countsWithin 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.Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, s. 2 Unsightly, s. 3(a)-(c) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
How to reportCall Bylaw Enforcement at 250.774.2541 option 5.Contact, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Bylaw Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Phone 250.774.2541 option 5
What happens nextA 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.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 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
FineBylaw 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, Schedule A, Property Maintenance · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
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
BylawProperty Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (consolidated June 2018).Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009
Consolidated June 2018 for Ease of Use

How it works

Under the Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009, 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

The same question in other places

Stewart · New Hazelton · Granisle · Mackenzie · Fort St. John · Chetwynd

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 12, 2009 (PDF, consolidated June 2018), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Contact, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 59, 2011 (PDF, consolidated May 2024), Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (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. How answers are checked.