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Salmon Arm unsightly property rules and how to report

How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?

Salmon Arm, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In the City of Salmon Arm, owners and occupiers may not let property become or stay unsightly. That covers rubbish, broken fences, junk vehicles, and lawn over 20.32 cm (8 inches) on land not zoned agricultural. To report one, hand in a Bylaw Complaint Form or use Request Tracker.

Key facts

What countsNo owner or occupier may let property become or stay unsightly. Examples: broken or leaning fences; strewn materials; 3 or more (lots over 0.4 ha) or 2 or more (under 0.4 ha) unlicensed non-operable vehicles stored unenclosed; rubbish; indoor furniture, mattresses or appliances stored outside; lawn over 20.32 cm (8 in) on land not zoned agricultural; noxious weeds; overgrown landscaping; graffiti.Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137, s. 3, 3.1, 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No owner or occupier of real property shall permit that property to become or remain unsightly.
dilapidated, broken or leaning fences;
unenclosed storage of three (3) or more motor vehicles on a property greater than 0.4 hectares in area, that are neither capable of normal vehicular operation nor are licensed to operate under the Motor Vehicle Act; or
in excess of 20.32 centimeters (8 inches) in height;
nuisance weeds or noxious weeds, as the latter are defined and amended from time to time in the Weed Control Act;
graffiti on fences, buildings or other structures on real property or on patios, driveways or other finished ground surfaces.
furniture (other than furniture designed specifically for
outdoor use), mattresses, bedding or appliances stored
on a property that is not zoned for agricultural use, a lawn
How to reportComplete the Bylaw Complaint Form and hand it to the Customer Service Centre at City Hall, or use the online Request Tracker. Phone Bylaw Enforcement at 250.803.4000. Anonymous complaints are not accepted; the complainant's identity stays confidential unless needed in court.Bylaw Enforcement Services, How to Report a Bylaw Violation; Common Bylaw Violations; Staff Directory • Salmon Arm, BC • CivicEngage, Staff Directory, Bylaw Enforcement · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
please complete the Bylaw Complaint Form (PDF) and submit the form to the Customer Service Centre at City Hall
Report a bylaw violation using our Request Tracker.
Anonymous complaints will not be accepted by the City of Salmon Arm.
The Property Maintenance Bylaw (PDF) regulates property maintenance and unsightly conditions.
Building Inspection 250.803.4003 Bylaw Enforcement 250.803.4000 Bylaw Enforcement 250.803.4000 Customer Service Representatives 250.803.4000 Customer Service Representatives
What happens nextAn Authorized Person gives oral notice to the occupier, or written notice by registered mail to the owner, requiring the property be cleaned up within the time in the notice. If not done, the City may do the work at the person's expense; unpaid costs on December 31 are added to the property taxes as arrears.Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137, s. 6, 7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
An Authorized Person may, by oral notice given to an occupier of real property or by written notice sent by registered mail to the registered owner
within the time specified in the notice.
may enter on the real property and effect the compliance specified in the notice at the expense of the person who failed to comply.
the costs will be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the real property as taxes in arrears.
FineMunicipal ticket: $50 for unsightly property (s. 3), for each listed condition in s. 3.1, and for accumulations on real property (s. 4).Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 2760 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule 8, Schedule 8 (Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Unsightly property 3 $50.00
Accumulations on real property 4 50.00
Graffiti on fences, buildings or other structures 3.1(m) 50.00
BylawDistrict of Salmon Arm Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137, s. 12 Citation · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137

How it works

The Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137 says no owner or occupier in Salmon Arm may let property become or stay unsightly. Examples: broken or leaning fences; strewn materials; 3 or more (lots over 0.4 ha) or 2 or more (under 0.4 ha) unlicensed non-operable vehicles stored unenclosed; rubbish; indoor furniture, mattresses or appliances stored outside; lawn over 20.32 cm (8 in) on land not zoned agricultural; noxious weeds; overgrown landscaping; graffiti. It also bans accumulations of rubbish, graffiti, or noxious, unsightly or unwholesome matter.

Steps

  1. Complete the Bylaw Complaint Form and hand it to the Customer Service Centre at City Hall, or use the online Request Tracker. You can also phone Bylaw Enforcement at 250-803-4000.
  2. An Authorized Person gives oral notice to the occupier, or written notice by registered mail to the owner, to clean up within the time in the notice.
  3. If it is not done, the City may do the work at the person's expense. Unpaid costs on December 31 are added to the property taxes as arrears.

Good to know

  • Anonymous complaints are not accepted. Your identity stays confidential unless needed in court.
  • The City investigates on a complaint basis.
  • The bylaw does not apply to normal farm practices or to permitted, screened outside storage under the Zoning Bylaw.
  • The bylaw sets no fixed number of days to comply. The notice sets it.
  • Each day of a violation is a separate offence.
  • Municipal ticket: $50 for unsightly property and for each listed condition, under Bylaw 2760. The schedule shows no amount for 2 or more non-operable vehicles on a property under 0.4 ha; ask the City.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 3137 (PDF), City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  2. Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 2760 (consolidated, PDF), Schedule 8 (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Bylaw Enforcement Services, City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Common Bylaw Violations, City of Salmon Arm (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Staff Directory • Salmon Arm, BC • CivicEngage (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.