Salmo unsightly property rules and how to report
How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Salmo?
In Salmo, owners must not let property become or stay unsightly or unsanitary. To report one, call the Village office at 250-357-9433 or use the Bylaw Complaint Form. Staff send the owner a letter; the owner has 31 days to clean up.
Key facts
| What counts | Owners and occupiers must not let property become or stay unsightly or unsanitary. This includes filth, discarded materials or rubbish; standing water, broken glass, uncontained compost or graffiti; unsightly growth of trees, weeds or grass; smoke, dust or fumes; unregistered or inoperable vehicles; and unused construction materials.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, s. 4.1, 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person, who is the owner or occupier of real property, shall allow that real property to become or remain unsightly or unsanitary. the accumulation of filth, discarded materials, or rubbish of any kind on their premise construction materials and equipment, not currently being used for the purposes of valid construction |
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| How to report | Complaints go to Village staff; the Village lists a Bylaw Complaint Form on its Forms page (submit in person, by email or through the Contact page). Village office: 250-357-9433.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, s. 5.1; Forms, Forms page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWhen a complaint is received by staff, or in the opinion of Bylaw Enforcement personnel, a member of staff will inspect the property - Sidewalk Table Area Permit Application Form - Bylaw 730 ## Requests & Miscellaneous Forms - Bylaw Complaint Form - General Complaint Form - Civic Works General Request Form |
| What happens next | Staff inspect, photograph and send the owner, occupier and mortgagee a letter with a ticket. The owner has 31 days to clean up and 14 days to respond in writing; Council may hear the owner. After day 31, staff or a contractor may clean up and bill the owner; unpaid charges go on the tax bill.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, s. 5.1 to 5.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe letter will direct remediation of the property within 31 days, and the offending party will be given 14 days from the date of issuance to respond in writing. staff or a contractor will clean up the property and send an account to the Owner/Occupier the charges will be added to and form part of the taxes payable as taxes in arrears. |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $100 for each listed offence (Schedule F). On conviction in court: $250 to $2,000 plus costs, and each day is a separate offence.Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, Schedule F; s. 6.1, 6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThe accumulation of filth, discarded materials, or rubbish of 4.2.1 $100.00 liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) and not more than two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) |
| Bylaw | Village of Salmo Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, 2013 (adopted July 8, 2014).Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649, Certificate · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingVillage of Salmo Unsightly Premises By-law No.649, 2013 |
How it works
The Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649 says owners and occupiers must not let property become or stay unsightly or unsanitary. This includes filth, discarded materials or rubbish; standing water, broken glass, uncontained compost or graffiti; unsightly growth of trees, weeds or grass; smoke, dust or fumes; unregistered or inoperable vehicles; and unused construction materials. This applies in the considered opinion of council or appointed staff. Vehicles stored in a closed building out of view are excepted.
Steps
- Call the Village office at 250-357-9433, or use the Bylaw Complaint Form on the Forms page (in person, by email or through the Contact page).
- Staff inspect, photograph and send the owner, occupier and mortgagee a letter with a ticket.
- The owner has 31 days to clean up and 14 days to respond in writing. Council may hear the owner.
- After day 31, staff or a contractor may clean up and bill the owner. Unpaid charges go on the tax bill.
Good to know
- Council may shorten the 31 days by resolution if there is a health or safety risk.
- A municipal ticket is $100 for each listed offence. On conviction in court the fine is $250 to $2,000 plus costs, and each day is a separate offence. These apply in different processes.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Fruitvale · Montrose · Castlegar · Nelson · Trail · Warfield
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Unsightly Premises By-law No. 649 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Forms, Village of Salmo (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact, Village of Salmo (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. How answers are checked.