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

# Parksville unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Parksville, send a Bylaw Complaint Form to bylaw@parksville.ca. Under Property Maintenance Bylaw 1383, owners must not let refuse pile up or let grass and weeds grow above 30 cm (60 cm on vacant parcels). The City can clean up and bill the owner.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Parksville, https://www.parksville.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice for an unsightly property $250 ($187.50 if paid within 14 days, $312.50 if paid late); second offence $375; third and later $500. Improper storage, noxious weeds, unsightly growth: $100, then $150, then $225. Municipal ticket $250. Court fine up to $2,000.  
**Where:**
- Email: Bylaw Compliance, bylaw@parksville.ca
- Phone: Bylaw Compliance, 250-954-4650
- In person: City Hall, 100 Jensen Avenue East, Parksville, BC V9P 2H3 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners must not let refuse accumulate; store vehicles, boats or RVs unlicensed for more than 12 months or incapable of moving; leave items improperly stored; grow noxious weeds; let grass or weeds exceed 30 cm (60 cm on vacant parcels); hold standing water in man-made containers; allow insects, fire hazards or dumping. Graffiti counts as unsightly. Farm land in the ALR is exempt from the weed and growth rules.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 1 and s. 3](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094)
  - Official wording: "UNSIGHTLY means an untidy or otherwise non-aesthetic accumulation of filth," … "discarded materials, or refuse on any real property, and includes graffiti." … "No property owner of real property shall cause or permit his or her parcel to" … "collect or accumulate any refuse." … "for more than 12 months or heavy equipment incapable of sustained motorized" … "30 cm on a parcel with a primary use;" … "60 cm on a vacant parcel." … "No owner of real property shall cause or permit any items or materials of any kind to" … "shall cause or permit water to accumulate"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Complete the Bylaw Complaint Form and send it to bylaw@parksville.ca, hand it in at 100 Jensen Avenue East (8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday), mail it to PO Box 1390, Parksville V9P 2H3, or phone 250 954-4650. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
  - Source: [Bylaws and Compliance, Bylaws and Compliance page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=456)
  - Official wording: "By email at bylaw@parksville.ca" … "By mail to PO Box 1390, Parksville V9P 2H3" … "anonymous complaints are not accepted."
  - Source: [Bylaw Compliance FAQs](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=717)
  - Official wording: "In person City of Parksville (100 Jensen Avenue East) Mail PO Box 1390, Parksville, BC V9P 2H3 Phone 250 954-4650 Bylaw Complaint Form What information does a bylaw officer need from me?"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** Enforcement is complaint-driven. You get an acknowledgment within about two business days. The City first tries to gain compliance before tickets. The owner must remove unsightly refuse, weeds and growth; if not, the City may enter and do it at the owner's cost, and unpaid costs by December 31 are added to property taxes.
  - Source: [Bylaw Compliance FAQs](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=717)
  - Official wording: "You will receive an acknowledgment of your complaint, usually within two business days."
  - Source: [Bylaws and Compliance, Bylaws and Compliance page](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=456)
  - Official wording: "The bylaw compliance department attempts, where possible, to gain compliance with the municipal bylaws before resorting to enforcement actions"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 7](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094)
  - Official wording: "may, by its employees or other persons, at reasonable" … "the costs shall be added to and form part of the taxes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: allowing an unsightly property $250 ($187.50 within 14 days; $312.50 late), second offence $375, third and later $500. Improper storage, noxious weeds, unsightly growth: $100 first offence, $150 second, $225 third. Municipal ticket schedule (2012): $250 for unsightly property or growth.
  - Source: [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A, Schedule A, Property Maintenance Bylaw s. 3](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814)
  - Official wording: "Allow Unsightly Property $250.00 $187.50 $312.50" … "Second offence $375.00 $375.00 $468.75" … "Fail to Clear Noxious Weeds $100.00 $75.00 $125.00" … "Fail to Clear Unsightly Growth $100.00 $75.00 $125.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478, Appendix 8](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1121)
  - Official wording: "Allow Unsightly Property 3(b) $250.00" … "Fail to Clear Unsightly Growth 3(e) $250.00"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 8](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094)
  - Official wording: "penalty not exceeding $2,000.00 for each offence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2003, No. 1383
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 11](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2003, No."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City enforces the [Property Maintenance Bylaw 1383](<https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094>) mostly when someone complains. Owners must not let refuse accumulate; store vehicles, boats or RVs unlicensed for more than 12 months or incapable of moving; leave items improperly stored; grow noxious weeds; let grass or weeds exceed 30 cm (60 cm on vacant parcels); hold standing water in man-made containers; or allow insects, fire hazards or dumping. Graffiti counts as unsightly. Farm land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is exempt from the weed and growth rules.

## Steps

1. Complete the Bylaw Complaint Form with your name and contact details. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
2. Email it to bylaw@parksville.ca, hand it in at 100 Jensen Avenue East (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.), mail it to PO Box 1390, Parksville V9P 2H3, or phone 250-954-4650.
3. You should get an acknowledgment within about two business days. The City first tries to gain compliance before issuing tickets.

## Good to know

- If the owner does not remove unsightly refuse, weeds and growth, the City may enter and do it at the owner's cost. Unpaid costs by December 31 are added to property taxes.
- The bylaw sets no notice period or deadline for owners to comply.
- It also covers sidewalk and boulevard upkeep, snow and ice removal within 12 hours, and vacant or abandoned buildings.
- A bylaw notice for an unsightly property is $250 ($187.50 if paid within 14 days, $312.50 if paid late); second offence $375, third and later $500. A municipal ticket is $250.
- The [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw 1489](<https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/4529>) covers other nuisances, such as unsanitary conditions on property.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaws and Compliance (Bylaw Complaint Form and brochure)](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=456)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw 1383 (consolidated PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094)
- [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw 1489 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/4529)

## Related questions

- [Parksville bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Qualicum Beach](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/qualicum-beach/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lantzville](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lantzville/unsightly-property.md)
- [Nanaimo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nanaimo/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/unsightly-property.md)
- [Sechelt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/unsightly-property.md)
- [Ladysmith](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ladysmith/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaws and Compliance, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=456) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Compliance FAQs, City of Parksville](https://www.parksville.ca/cms.asp?wpID=717) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1094) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Nuisance Abatement Bylaw No. 1489, 2013](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/4529) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/2814) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478 (PDF)](https://parksville.civicweb.net/document/1121) (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 Parksville. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/parksville/unsightly-property/_