Rossland unsightly property rules and how to report
How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Rossland?
Short answer
In the City of Rossland, report an unsightly property to City Hall at 250-362-7396 in writing, with your name, address, phone number and the exact location. The Good Neighbour Bylaw bars accumulated rubbish, weeds, graffiti and derelict vehicles. The City can order a fix, usually within 14 days.
Key facts
| What counts | An owner or occupier must not allow rubbish or noxious or offensive matter to collect or pile up around a container; the property to become unsightly; dead landscaping, noxious weeds or other growth to build up; graffiti to remain; or derelict vehicles to be kept outdoors. Normal farm operations and zoning-permitted orderly storage are exempt.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2631, 2017, s. 6.1; Council agenda, June 12, 2017 (draft Good Neighbour Bylaw), Draft s. 5.14 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingwater, rubbish, noxious, offensive, or unwholesome matter to collect or rubbish to overflow from or accumulate around any container situated allow the real property to become or remain unsightly; the accumulation of dead landscaping, vegetation, noxious weeds or graffiti to remain on the real property; the storage or accumulation of a derelict vehicle or derelict vehicles it will be required that it is removed in one week (a) Part V of this Bylaw does not apply to farm operations conducted in (b) Part V of this Bylaw does not apply to the orderly outdoor storage of |
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| How to report | Complain to City Hall in writing (mail, email, fax or hand-delivered) with your name, address, phone number and the specific location and nature of the problem; anonymous complaints are not investigated. Policy AD-3 also allows telephone or the 'Report a Problem' form on the City website. You may be asked for a statement describing the unsightliness and your relationship to the property. City Hall: (250) 362-7396.Noise and Nuisances, How to make a Complaint; Policy AD-3 Bylaw and Policy Enforcement, Procedures 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingyou may be asked for a statement to articulate the unsightliness of the property must be in writing (standard mail, email, fax or hand delivered) Anonymous complaints will not be investigated. (250)362-7396 by telephone or email, in writing, or via the Report a Problem |
| What happens next | A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can order the owner to fix the property, usually within 14 days. If the owner does not comply, the City may do the work at the owner's cost, including administrative costs, and may add the cost to the property taxes. The City first seeks voluntary compliance.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2631, 2017, s. 6.10-6.11; Noise and Nuisances, How to make a Complaint; Council agenda, June 12, 2017 (draft Good Neighbour Bylaw), Draft s. 5.9(d)-(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingremove unsightly accumulations of materials or rubbish from cut grass or weeds present on the real property; If the owner of real property or other responsible person fails to comply with the Bylaw Enforcement Officer's compliance order within the time period specified compliance at the cost of the defaulting owner or other responsible person. often take more time as we work with the property owner to rectify any issues with this Bylaw must be remedied within 14 days of the date of the cost of such work will be added to the taxes of the real |
| Fine | Not confirmed. The City's ticket bylaws are unreadable scans. |
| Bylaw | City of Rossland Good Neighbour Bylaw Number 2631, 2017 (Part 6, Property Maintenance)Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2631, 2017, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCity of Rossland Good Neighbour Bylaw Number |
How it works
Part 6 of the Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2631 says an owner or occupier must not let rubbish or noxious or offensive matter pile up, let the property become unsightly, let dead landscaping, noxious weeds or other growth build up, leave graffiti, or keep derelict vehicles outdoors. Normal farm operations and orderly storage permitted by zoning are exempt. The City's copy is a poor scan, so some rules here come from the draft text in the June 12, 2017 Council agenda. Confirm with the City.
Steps
- Note the street address and what is wrong.
- Complain to City Hall in writing (mail, email, fax or hand delivery) with your name, address, phone number and the specific location and nature of the problem. Policy AD-3 also allows a phone call or the Report a Problem form on the City website. Anonymous complaints are not investigated.
- You may be asked for a statement describing the unsightliness and your relationship to the property.
- A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can order the owner to fix the property, usually within 14 days. The City first seeks voluntary compliance.
- If the owner does not comply, the City may do the work at the owner's cost, including administrative costs, and may add the cost to the property taxes.
Good to know
- No numeric grass or weed height is stated.
- No ticket amount for unsightly property is available. The bylaw sets a maximum court fine of $10,000.
- The bylaw's boulevard and lane upkeep rules were too scrambled to read.
- The City does not state how long a complaint takes.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Warfield · Trail · Montrose · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2631, 2017 (PDF), City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
- Council agenda, June 12, 2017 (draft Good Neighbour Bylaw), City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
- Noise and Nuisances, City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
- Policy AD-3 Bylaw and Policy Enforcement (PDF), City of Rossland (read 2026-11-05)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 5 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.