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

# Port McNeill unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Port McNeill, the Nuisance Bylaw bans unsightly parcels, including rubbish, unlicensed vehicles, uncovered garbage, graffiti and insect infestations. The Town's Animal Control page links a Bylaw Complaint form. Call the Town Office at 250-956-3111 or email reception@portmcneill.ca. The ticket is $100.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Port McNeill, https://portmcneill.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket $100; rises by 50% if not paid within 30 days.  
**How long:** The bylaw sets no notice period for unsightly premises.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Office, 1775 Furney Place, Port McNeill, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed statutory holidays))
- Email: Town Office reception, reception@portmcneill.ca

## Key facts

- **What counts:** An owner must not let a parcel become or stay unsightly: no accumulation of building material (unless there is a building permit or it is stored out of sight), unlicensed or immobile vehicles (unless in a closed building), rubbish or discarded materials, garbage not in a covered receptacle, graffiti, or caterpillar and other insect infestations. Owners must clear brush, trees and noxious weeds when the Town directs.
  - Source: [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006, s. 3](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No owner shall cause, allow or permit a parcel to become or to remain unsightly," … "of garbage not contained in a covered receptacle;" … "shall fail to clear such" … "property of brush, trees, noxious weeds, or other growths when directed to do so" … "No owner of a parcel shall cause, allow or permit the presence of graffiti,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** The Town's Animal Control & Licensing page links a "Bylaw Complaint form". Town Office: 250-956-3111, reception@portmcneill.ca.
  - Source: [Animal Control & Licensing, Animal Control & Licensing page](https://portmcneill.ca/residents/animal-control-licensing/)
  - Official wording: "If your pet escapes or is missing, or you find another pet wandering alone, please contact our Animal Control Officer, animalcontrol@portmcneill.ca. Tel: (250) 230-8804 Email: animalcontrol@portmcneill.ca Bylaw Complaint form Port McNeill Veterinary Clinic #6-1705 Campbell Way Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm"
  - Source: [Contact, Contact page](https://portmcneill.ca/contact/)
  - Official wording: "P: 250-956-3111 ext. 104 Reception Vicki Daniels E: reception@portmcneill.ca P: 250-956-3111 Operations & Implementation Manager Troy Simoneau E: operations@portmcneill.ca P: 250-956-3111 Ext. 601"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** If an owner or occupier does not comply, the Town may enter the property at reasonable times and fix it. Unpaid costs not paid by December 31 of that year are added to the property taxes as taxes in arrears.
  - Source: [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006, s. 3(h)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Town of Port McNeill, by its employees or other persons, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, may enter on the property and effect a" … "remedy." … "unpaid costs shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable in respect of that" … "real property as taxes in arrears."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** $100 for unsightly premises offences (general, building materials, derelict vehicle, rubbish, uncontained garbage, failing to clear brush or weeds, insect infestation, graffiti). Rises by 50% if not paid within 30 days.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 584, 2006, Schedule 2, NUISANCES & UNISGHTLY PREMISES](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-584-2006-Municipal-Ticket-Information-System-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Unsightly Premises 3 $100.00" … "Graffiti on Pro~erty 3(g) $100.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 584, 2006, s. 2.5](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-584-2006-Municipal-Ticket-Information-System-Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the fine amount shall be increased by fifty percent."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006
  - Source: [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006, s. 11](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Port McNeill's [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf) says an owner must not let a parcel become or stay unsightly. That covers accumulated building material (unless there is a building permit or it is stored out of sight), unlicensed or immobile vehicles (unless in a closed building), rubbish or discarded materials, garbage not in a covered receptacle, graffiti, and caterpillar and other insect infestations. Owners must also clear brush, trees and noxious weeds when the Town directs.

## Steps

1. Call the Town Office at 250-956-3111 or email reception@portmcneill.ca.
2. You can also use the "Bylaw Complaint form" linked on the Town's Animal Control & Licensing page. The pages do not say whether it is meant for unsightly property, so confirm.

## Good to know

- If an owner does not comply, the Town may enter the property at reasonable times and fix it. Costs not paid by December 31 of that year are added to the property taxes.
- Residential owners must also clear snow and ice from the sidewalk within 10 hours of the end of a snowfall and keep boulevards free of weeds with the grass cut.
- The ticket is $100 under the [Municipal Ticket Information bylaw (No. 584)](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-584-2006-Municipal-Ticket-Information-System-Bylaw.pdf), rising by 50% if not paid within 30 days. A court conviction can bring a fine of up to $10,000.

## Official forms and pages

- [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf)
- [Animal Control & Licensing, Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/residents/animal-control-licensing/)

## Related questions

- [Port McNeill bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Port McNeill noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/noise-rules.md)
- [Port McNeill garbage collection: schedule, carts and limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/garbage-collection.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/unsightly-property.md)
- [Zeballos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/zeballos/unsightly-property.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/unsightly-property.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/unsightly-property.md)
- [Gold River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gold-river/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Nuisance Bylaw No. 571.1, 2006 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-5711-2006-Nuisance-Bylaw-Finally-Read-Dec-2006.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 584, 2006 (PDF), Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/No-584-2006-Municipal-Ticket-Information-System-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Animal Control & Licensing, Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/residents/animal-control-licensing/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Town of Port McNeill](https://portmcneill.ca/contact/) (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 Town of Port McNeill. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-mcneill/unsightly-property/_