GovHandbook

Sayward unsightly property rules and how to report

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

Sayward, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Sayward, owners and occupiers must not let property become unsightly or let rubbish collect, and must keep ground cover under 30 cm. Report a property at the Village Office or with the online Bylaw Complaint Form. Council can order a clean-up and the Village can do it at the owner's cost.

Key facts

What countsOwners and occupiers must not let property become unsightly or let rubbish, discarded materials or noxious matter collect (s. 7.13); keep ground cover under 30 cm and noxious weeds and unkempt growth cleared (s. 7.14); remove graffiti within 5 working days (s. 7.2); keep boulevards tidy (s. 7.3).Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023, ss. 7.13, 7.14; Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023, s. 7.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
No Owner or Occupier of Real Property shall permit the Real Property to become or
keep ground cover vegetation from exceeding 30 cm in height
within five (5) working days of the placement
How to reportAt the Village Office, or with the online Bylaw Complaint Form.Bylaws, Bylaws page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Would you like to file a Bylaw Complaint? You may do so at the Village Office or, if you’d prefer, you can submit one online using the button below.
What happens nextCouncil may declare the property must be brought into compliance in a set time, and an officer may issue a notice (s. 7.19). If not done, the Village may do the work at the owner's cost (s. 7.20); unpaid costs can be added to the property tax roll (s. 7.21). The owner may ask Council to reconsider within 14 days (s. 7.22).Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023, ss. 7.19 to 7.22 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Council may make a declaration requiring that the Owner or other responsible person bring the Real Property into compliance
at the cost of the defaulting Owner or other responsible person
within 14 days of receipt of the notice, or lesser time if specified in the notice
FineNo ticket amount is set. On conviction, a fine of up to $10,000 (s. 8.2).Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023, s. 8.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
to a fine of not more than $10,000 (and not less than the fines prescribed in the Village of Sayward Ticketing Offence Bylaw)
BylawPublic Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
This bylaw may be cited for all purposes as “Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023”.

How it works

The Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023 (Part 7) says owners and occupiers must not:

  • let property become unsightly or let rubbish, discarded materials or noxious matter collect. Discarded materials include unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, boats, machinery and firewood not neatly stacked;
  • let ground cover grow over 30 cm, or leave noxious weeds and unkempt growth;
  • leave graffiti (remove it within 5 working days);
  • leave boulevards untidy.

Steps

  1. Report the property at the Village Office (250-282-5512) or with the online Bylaw Complaint Form.
  2. Council may declare that the property must be brought into compliance within a set time, and an officer may issue a notice.
  3. If the work is not done, the Village may do it at the owner's cost. Unpaid costs can be added to the property tax roll.
  4. An owner may ask Council to reconsider within 14 days.

Good to know

  • No ticket amount is set. On conviction, a fine of up to $10,000.
  • The Ticketing Bylaw No. 422 has no schedule for Bylaw 502.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Campbell River · Gold River · Tahsis · Zeballos · Port McNeill · Courtenay

Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, 2023 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Bylaws, Village of Sayward (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Staff Directory, Village of Sayward (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.