Parksville unsightly property rules and how to report
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.
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.Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 1 and s. 3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUNSIGHTLY 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 |
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| 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.Bylaws and Compliance, Bylaws and Compliance page; Bylaw Compliance FAQs · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingBy email at bylaw@parksville.ca By mail to PO Box 1390, Parksville V9P 2H3 anonymous complaints are not accepted. 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? |
| 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.Bylaw Compliance FAQs; Bylaws and Compliance, Bylaws and Compliance page; Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingYou will receive an acknowledgment of your complaint, usually within two business days. The bylaw compliance department attempts, where possible, to gain compliance with the municipal bylaws before resorting to enforcement actions may, by its employees or other persons, at reasonable the costs shall be added to and form part of the taxes |
| 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.Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A, Schedule A, Property Maintenance Bylaw s. 3; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478, Appendix 8; Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 8 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingAllow 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 Allow Unsightly Property 3(b) $250.00 Fail to Clear Unsightly Growth 3(e) $250.00 penalty not exceeding $2,000.00 for each offence; |
| Bylaw | Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2003, No. 1383Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025), s. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Property Maintenance Bylaw, 2003, No. |
How it works
The City enforces the Property Maintenance Bylaw 1383 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
- Complete the Bylaw Complaint Form with your name and contact details. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
- 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.
- 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 covers other nuisances, such as unsanitary conditions on property.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Lantzville · Nanaimo · Port Alberni · Sechelt · Ladysmith
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Bylaws and Compliance, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Compliance FAQs, City of Parksville (read 2026-11-05)
- Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1383, 2003 (consolidated to 1383.3, July 2025) (read 2026-11-05)
- Nuisance Abatement Bylaw No. 1489, 2013 (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Offence Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1486, Schedule A (read 2026-11-05)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 1478 (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. How answers are checked.