---
title: Oak Bay unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Oak Bay?"
place: Oak Bay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/oak-bay
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Oak Bay
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Oak Bay unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Oak Bay, report rubbish, derelict vehicles or boats, or overgrown property to Bylaw Enforcement at 250-598-3311 or bylaw@oakbay.ca. The owner can be ordered to fix it within 14 days. A ticket is $200 ($150 if paid within 30 days).

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Oak Bay, https://www.oakbay.ca)  
**Cost:** Reporting is free. A municipal ticket is $200 ($150 if paid within 30 days). If the District does the work, the cost is charged to the owner.  
**How long:** The owner may be given 14 days to fix the problem.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 250-598-3311
- Email: Bylaw Enforcement, bylaw@oakbay.ca

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must keep land clear of graffiti, filth, discarded materials or rubbish of any kind (including detached vehicle or boat parts, and building materials unless there is a current building permit), derelict boats, derelict vehicles, and brush, noxious weeds or growth that is likely to spread or is so unkempt as to be unsightly to nearby residents.
  - Source: [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938), ss. 2, 3](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Every owner or occupier of land in the District of Oak Bay shall keep such land clear of" … "any accumulation of graffiti, filth, discarded materials or rubbish of any kind;" … "so unkempt as to be unsightly to nearby residents." … "building materials, construction equipment, or both, unless the owner of the land"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact Bylaw Enforcement at bylaw@oakbay.ca or 250-598-3311. Complainants are asked to identify themselves; identity is held in confidence where the offence can be shown by inspection.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Freedom of Information; Contact Us](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "Complainants are asked to identify themselves when contacting the District on bylaw enforcement matters." … "bylaw@oakbay.ca" … "250-598-3311"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** The Director of Building and Planning may give the owner notice to fix the problem within 14 days. The owner may ask Council to reconsider. If it is not done, the District may do the work at the owner's expense (including disposal), and unpaid costs are added to the property taxes.
  - Source: [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938), ss. 4, 7, 11, 13](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "advising that the Corporation will be entitled to take the required remedial action at the" … "expense of the person subject to the requirement if the remedial action has not been taken" … "the costs shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the land" … "as taxes in arrears."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $200 ($150 if paid within 30 days) for an accumulation of graffiti or rubbish, a derelict boat or vehicle, or overgrown property.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, 2023 (consolidated), Sched. 21](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Accumulation Of Graffiti/Rubbish 2 (1) $200.00 $150.00" … "Overgrown Property 2 (4) $200.00 $150.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938)
  - Source: [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938), s. 19](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as the “RUBBISH AND WEED CONTROL BYLAW, 1997”." … "BYLAW NO. 3938"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw](<https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf>) requires owners and occupiers to keep land clear of graffiti, filth, discarded materials or rubbish of any kind (including detached vehicle or boat parts, and building materials unless there is a current building permit), derelict boats, derelict vehicles, and brush, noxious weeds or growth that is likely to spread or is so unkempt as to be unsightly to nearby residents.

## Steps

1. Contact Bylaw Enforcement at bylaw@oakbay.ca or 250-598-3311.
2. Give your name. Complainants are asked to identify themselves, and identity is held in confidence where the offence can be shown by inspection.
3. The Director of Building and Planning may give the owner notice to fix the problem within 14 days. The owner may ask Council to reconsider.

## Good to know

- If the work is not done, the District may do it at the owner's expense, including disposal. Unpaid costs are added to the property taxes.
- Derelict vehicles or boats removed by the District are stored at least 60 days before disposal.
- A ticket can also be issued: $200 ($150 if paid within 30 days), under [Bylaw No. 4846](<https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf>).

## Official forms and pages

- [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/)

## Related questions

- [Oak Bay bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Oak Bay noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/noise-rules.md)
- [Oak Bay RV, boat and trailer parking rules](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/rv-boat-trailer-parking.md)
- [Oak Bay yard waste collection and drop-off](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/yard-waste.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Victoria](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/victoria/unsightly-property.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/unsightly-property.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/unsightly-property.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/unsightly-property.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/unsightly-property.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Rubbish and Weed Control Bylaw, 1997 (Bylaw No. 3938) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/3938-rubbish-weeds-bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, District of Oak Bay](https://www.oakbay.ca/services/bylaw-enforcement/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 4846, 2023 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.oakbay.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bylaw-4846-Municipal-Ticket-Info-Consolidate.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 District of Oak Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oak-bay/unsightly-property/_