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

# Prince George unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Prince George, report an unsightly, overgrown or junk-filled property to Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 or bylawservices@princegeorge.ca, or through the bylaw complaint form on the City's website. The Property Maintenance Bylaw 8425 covers refuse, junk, derelict vehicles, weeds, graffiti and lawns over 10 inches.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Prince George, https://www.princegeorge.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $200 (or $250 if paid after 30 days) for refuse or an unsightly property; $100 (or $125 if paid late) for an overgrown lawn or noxious weeds.  
**Where:**
- Online: Report a Bylaw Issue, https://princegeorgebc.citysourced.ca/servicerequests/create
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-561-7622
- Phone: 3-1-1 (graffiti downtown or on City property), 311
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawservices@princegeorge.ca

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let refuse, garbage or offensive material collect, or the land become untidy or unsightly (junk, derelict vehicles, broken fences, dead plants, decayed buildings). Lawns must not exceed the neighbourhood standard and never 10 inches; noxious weeds and graffiti visible from outside are also banned.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012 (consolidated), s. 4(1), (2), (4); s. 6(2); s. 2 "Unsightly Property"](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No Owner or Occupier shall cause or permit the Land of the Owner or Occupier" … "to become or remain an untidy or Unsightly Property." … "No person shall place Graffiti in such a manner as to be visible from a highway," … "grow in height beyond the prevailing standard in the neighbourhood but in any event, not beyond 10 (ten) inches in height."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Contact Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 or bylawservices@princegeorge.ca, or submit a bylaw complaint on the City's website.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Guide, Property maintenance](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/good-neighbour-guide)
  - Official wording: "Contact Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 or email bylawservices@princegeorge.ca."
  - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw complaints](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement)
  - Official wording: "Submit a bylaw complaint"
  - Source: [Prevent and Report Graffiti, Bylaw responsibilities](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/prevent-report-graffiti)
  - Official wording: "let us know by submitting a bylaw complaint"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** An officer can give a bylaw notice requiring the owner to comply within a stated time. If not, the Authorized Person can issue a written order. If the order is ignored, the City can do the work and charge the owner, plus a $200 administrative cost.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012 (consolidated), ss. 23-25; Schedule A](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "may, by Bylaw notice, require the Owner" … "the Authorized Person may issue a written order directing that the Owner or Occupier comply" … "to fulfill the requirements of the order of the Authorized Person and to recover the costs, including the administrative costs provided in Schedule" … "Administrative Cost to obtain compliance at defaulter’s expense 21 200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $200 if paid within 30 days of the Bylaw Notice, $250 if paid later, for refuse (s. 4(1)) or an unsightly property (s. 4(2)). Overgrown lawn (s. 6(2)) and noxious weeds are $100, $125 if late.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B, Schedule B, Property Maintenance Bylaw](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Allow Refuse on property 4(1) $200 $250 Yes" … "Allow Unsightly Property 4(2) $200 $250 Yes" … "Allow overgrown lawn 6(2) $100 $125 Yes"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012 (consolidated), s. 1(1)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
  - Official wording: "City of Prince George Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf) says owners and occupiers must not let refuse, garbage or offensive material collect, or let the land become untidy or unsightly. Examples include junk, derelict vehicles, broken fences, dead plants and decayed buildings. Lawns must not exceed the neighbourhood standard and never 10 inches. Noxious weeds and graffiti visible from outside are also banned.

## Steps

1. Note the address and what is wrong.
2. Contact Bylaw Services at 250-561-7622 or bylawservices@princegeorge.ca, or submit a bylaw complaint on the City's website.
3. For graffiti downtown or on City property, you can also report through 3-1-1 or the online service request.

## Good to know

- After a complaint, an officer can give a bylaw notice requiring the owner to comply within a stated time. If that is ignored, an Authorized Person can issue a written order. If the order is also ignored, the City can do the work and charge the owner, plus a $200 administrative cost.
- Bylaw notice amounts: refuse (s. 4(1)) or unsightly property (s. 4(2)) is $200, or $250 if paid later. An overgrown lawn (s. 6(2)) or noxious weeds is $100, or $125 if paid later.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425 (consolidated PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf)
- [Prevent and Report Graffiti](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/prevent-report-graffiti)

## Related questions

- [Prince George bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/unsightly-property.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/unsightly-property.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/unsightly-property.md)
- [Mackenzie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/mackenzie/unsightly-property.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Good Neighbour Guide, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/good-neighbour-guide) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Enforcement, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Prevent and Report Graffiti, City of Prince George](https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-services/bylaw-enforcement/prevent-report-graffiti) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 8425, 2012 (consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2023-04/BL8425_BYLAW_CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 8813, 2016 (consolidated), Schedule B (PDF)](https://www.princegeorge.ca/sites/default/files/2026-07/BL8813_CONSOLIDATED_2024-09-09_0.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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Prince George. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/unsightly-property/_