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

# Port Moody unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Port Moody, report an untidy, overgrown or junk-filled property with the online bylaw complaint form or by calling Bylaw Enforcement at 604-469-4697. Anonymous complaints are not accepted. The Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw covers it, and a $100 municipal ticket can follow.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Port Moody, https://www.portmoody.ca)  
**Cost:** Municipal ticket $100 per offence under the Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw.  
**Where:**
- Online: Bylaw complaint form, https://forms.portmoody.ca/Bylaws/Bylaws-Complaint-form
- Phone: Bylaw Enforcement, 604-469-4697

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let property become untidy or unsightly, overgrown with brush or noxious weeds, or collect filth, discarded materials, graffiti or rubbish. In residential zones, outside a building, no unlicensed vehicles or trailers or their parts, loose lumber, bricks, metal, engines or machinery, rubbish, or untidy firewood. Waste containers must not overflow and must be lidded and secured against animals.
  - Source: [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488 (consolidated PDF), s. 4(a)-(d), 5](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier of real property in the City shall allow such property" … "to become or to remain untidy or unsightly" … "permit or allow the accumulation of filth, discarded materials, *grafitti or" … "No Occupier may permit rubbish to overflow the solid waste containers on" … "firewood, unless neatly piled or stacked against a wall or fence;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** File a bylaw complaint online (anonymous complaints are not accepted) or call Bylaw Enforcement at 604.469.4697.
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Complaints; Contact Us](https://www.portmoody.ca/city-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/)
  - Official wording: "If you'd like us to investigate a bylaw infraction issue, you can submit a bylaw complaint online." … "Please note that we do not accept Anonymous complaints." … "Bylaw Enforcement 100 Newport Drive Port Moody, B.C. V3H 5C3 604.469.4697"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer serves a notice on the owner requiring the problem to be fixed within a stated time. If not fixed, the City may, within 15 days after written notice by registered mail, enter and do the work at the owner's expense; unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes. For items of value, an Order to Comply is issued, appealable to Council within 15 days.
  - Source: [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488 (consolidated PDF), s. 6(b), 6(c), 7(d)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740)
  - Official wording: "abate the nuisance within a time to be specified in the notice" … "fifteen (15) days following written notice by registered mail to the owner," … "shall be added to and form part of the taxes" … "appeal shall be brought forward in writing to the Clerk’s office within fifteen"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Municipal ticket: $100 for each of failing to keep property neat and tidy, overgrowth with noxious weeds, accumulation of filth, rubbish or graffiti, storing prohibited items, and waste container offences.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF), Schedule 2, Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329)
  - Official wording: "Fail to Maintain Property in Neat/Tidy" … "Property Overgrown with Noxious Weeds 4(b) $100.00" … "Permit Rubbish to Overflow Waste Container 5(b) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Port Moody Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw, 1980, No. 1488
  - Source: [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488 (consolidated PDF), Title](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740)
  - Official wording: "CITY of Port Moody “Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw, 1980, No. 1488”"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Port Moody's [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740) says owners and occupiers must not let property become untidy or unsightly, overgrown with brush or noxious weeds, or collect filth, discarded materials, graffiti or rubbish. In residential zones, outside a building, it also bans unlicensed vehicles or trailers or their parts, loose lumber, bricks, metal, engines or machinery, rubbish and untidy firewood. Waste containers must not overflow and must be lidded and secured against animals.

## Steps

1. File a bylaw complaint online, or call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-469-4697. Anonymous complaints are not accepted.
2. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer serves a notice on the owner requiring the problem to be fixed within a stated time.
3. If it is not fixed, the City may, within 15 days after written notice by registered mail, enter and do the work at the owner's expense. Unpaid charges on December 31 are added to the property taxes.
4. Where the materials appear to have a value above the cost of removal, an Order to Comply is issued instead; the owner can appeal it to Council within 15 days.

## Good to know

- Municipal ticket: $100 for each of failing to keep property neat and tidy, noxious weeds, accumulating filth, rubbish or graffiti, storing prohibited items, and waste container offences.
- A vehicle or trailer counts as unlicensed if it has no licence for the current year, unless a Bylaw Enforcement Officer issues a permit. Building materials under a building permit are exempt.

## Official forms and pages

- [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740)

## Related questions

- [Port Moody bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Belcarra](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/belcarra/unsightly-property.md)
- [Anmore](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/anmore/unsightly-property.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/unsightly-property.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/unsightly-property.md)
- [Burnaby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Untidy and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 1488 (consolidated PDF), City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=493740) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 3218 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.portmoody.ca/eDocs/Get?docnumber=514329) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Port Moody](https://www.portmoody.ca/city-government/bylaws-and-policies/bylaw-enforcement/) (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 Port Moody. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/unsightly-property/_