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Richmond unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Richmond?

Richmond, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

To report an unsightly, rubbish-filled or overgrown property in the City of Richmond, use the City's online Report a Problem form and choose your concern from the drop-down menu. Owners and occupiers must keep grass to 20 cm or less and remove rubbish and graffiti.

Key facts

What countsAn owner or occupier must not let property become or stay 'unsightly' or let rubbish, filth, discarded materials or noxious, offensive or unwholesome matter collect on or around it. They must remove rubbish and graffiti, clear unsightly brush, trees, weeds or other growth and noxious weeds, and keep grass trimmed to no more than 20 cm. 'Unsightly' includes accumulated junk, litter, refuse or derelict vehicles, derelict fences, dead or uncontrolled landscaping, graffiti, and buildings showing physical decay or neglect. Placing graffiti on or near a public place, and rubbish on public property, are also banned.Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162, s. 1.1-1.4, definition of Unsightly; Unsightly Premises & Graffiti, What is an Unsightly Premises? · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
An owner or occupier of real property must not:
allow such property to become or remain unsightly; or,
keep grass trimmed to a height of not more than 20 centimetres.
A person must not place graffiti on walls, fences, or elsewhere on or
the accumulation of junk, filth, litter, brush,
derelict fence(s); (c) landscaping that is dead, characterized by uncontrolled growth or significant lack
An unsightly premises is characterised by the excessive accumulation of rubbish, filth and discarded materials on a property.
How to reportUse the City's Customer Feedback page: choose your concern in the 'Report a Problem or Request a Service' drop-down. For graffiti call the Graffiti Hotline at 604-270-8721 (City-owned property). General line 604-276-4000.Unsightly Premises & Graffiti, Reporting Unsightly Premises or Graffiti · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
To report an unsightly property or graffiti, head to the Customer Feedback page
Graffiti should be reported through the Graffiti Hotline at 604-270-8721.
contact us at 604-276-4000.
What happens nextA Bylaw Enforcement Officer may serve an Order to Comply requiring the offending material be removed or cleared within 10 days of service (or another reasonable time if special circumstances exist). The order can be appealed to Council by written notice to the City Clerk at least 72 hours before the deadline. If the owner does not comply, City staff or a contractor may enter and clear it at the owner's expense; charges unpaid by December 31 are added to the property taxes as taxes in arrears.Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162, s. 2.1-2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
within 10 days of service of such Order to Comply.
may set a time to comply, other than 10 days, that is reasonable in the circumstances.
at least 72 hours prior to the expiration of the time given in the Order to
may enter on the
real property, at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner, to remove or
at the expense of the defaulting owner or
form part of the taxes payable on such property, as taxes in arrears.
FineBylaw notice (Bylaw 8122 Schedule A): $450 for letting property become or remain unsightly or letting rubbish accumulate ($300 if paid within 28 days; $500 if paid after 60 days). Grass over 20 cm, or uncleared brush, trees, weeds or noxious weeds: $150 ($100 early; $200 late). Graffiti: $450. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 7321 Schedule B14): $1,000 for unsightly property or rubbish, graffiti or failing to meet an Order to Comply; $500 for brush, weeds or grass over 20 cm.Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Schedule A, Schedule A - Unsightly Premises Bylaw 7162; Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 7321, Schedule B14, Schedule B 14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Allow property to become or remain unsightly 1.1.1(a) No $ 450.00 $ 300.00 $ 500.00 n/a
Failure to clear or cause such property to be 1.2.1(b) No $ 150.00 $ 100.00 $ 200.00 n/a
Failure to keep grass trimmed to a height of 1.2.1(d) No $ 150.00 $ 100.00 $ 200.00 n/a
Allow property to become or remain unsightly 1.1.1 (a) $1,000
Failure to keep grass trimmed to a height of not more 1.2.1(d) $500
BylawUnsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw No. 7162.Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
CITY OF RICHMOND UNSIGHTLY PREMISES REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7162 EFFECTIVE DATE - JULY 23, 2001 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY
CITY OF RICHMOND UNSIGHTLY PREMISES REGULATION BYLAW NO. 7162 PART ONE: GENERAL PROVISIONS 1.1 Property Owner or Occupier Prohibitions

How it works

Under the Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162, an owner or occupier in the City of Richmond must not let property become or stay unsightly, or let rubbish, filth, discarded materials or noxious matter collect. They must remove rubbish and graffiti, clear unsightly brush, trees, weeds and noxious weeds, and keep grass trimmed to no more than 20 cm. "Unsightly" includes accumulated junk, litter, refuse or derelict vehicles, derelict fences, dead or uncontrolled landscaping, graffiti, and buildings showing physical decay or neglect. One derelict vehicle parked or stored on hard surfacing is excluded.

Steps

  1. Note the address and what the problem is.
  2. Go to the City's Customer Feedback page, choose your concern in the Report a Problem or Request a Service drop-down, and submit it. The City's general line is 604-276-4000.
  3. For graffiti on City-owned property, call the Graffiti Hotline at 604-270-8721. On private property, the City regulates upkeep under Bylaw 7162 rather than removing graffiti.

Good to know

  • A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may serve an Order to Comply requiring the material be removed or cleared within 10 days of service (or another reasonable time in special circumstances).
  • An order can be appealed to Council by written notice to the City Clerk at least 72 hours before the deadline.
  • If the owner does not comply, City staff or a contractor may clear the property at the owner's expense. Charges unpaid by December 31 are added to the property taxes.
  • A bylaw notice is $450 for an unsightly property or rubbish ($300 if paid within 28 days, $500 after 60 days). Grass over 20 cm or uncleared growth is $150 ($100 early, $200 late). Graffiti is $450. A municipal ticket is $1,000 for unsightly property, rubbish, graffiti or failing to meet an Order to Comply, and $500 for brush, weeds or grass over 20 cm.
  • On conviction in court the fine is $1,000 to $10,000.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Burnaby · North Vancouver · New Westminster · Delta · District of North Vancouver · Belcarra

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Unsightly Premises & Graffiti, City of Richmond (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Unsightly Premises Regulation Bylaw 7162 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Notice of Bylaw Violation Dispute Adjudication Bylaw 8122, Schedule A (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Municipal Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw 7321, Schedule B14 (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.