--- title: Sparwood unsightly property rules and how to report question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Sparwood?" place: Sparwood, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/sparwood category: Bylaws, noise and complaints owner: municipal owner_body: District of Sparwood sources_read: 2026-11-09 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/unsightly-property/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/unsightly-property.json" --- # Sparwood unsightly property rules and how to report **Question:** How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Sparwood? **Short answer:** Call Sparwood Bylaw Enforcement at 250-425-6820 about derelict vehicles, accumulated rubbish, uncut grass or vegetation blocking visibility. Give the address and describe the condition. **Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Sparwood, https://www.sparwood.ca) **Where:** - Email: Property complaints, bleo@sparwood.ca - Phone: Property complaints, 250-425-6820 ## Key facts - **What counts:** Examples include derelict vehicles, rubbish and vegetation blocking visibility. - Source: [Unsightly Properties: News & Updates - District of Sparwood, B.C.](https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/news-updates/post/unsightly-properties) - Official wording: "The District of Sparwood will be focusing on unsightly properties as part of its bylaw education and enforcement program. Properties that have derelict vehicles, accumulations of garbage, old furniture and machinery, uncut grass and (noxious) weeds, vegetation which interferes with the visibility of street signs, sidewalks and public utilities will be investigated upon receipt of a complaint or through proactive enforcement." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **How to report:** Email bleo@sparwood.ca or file a District service request. The District’s unsightly-property notice also lists 250-425-6820. - Source: [Unsightly Properties: News & Updates - District of Sparwood, B.C.](https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/news-updates/post/unsightly-properties) - Official wording: "Anyone seeking to report a possible unsightly property can call Bylaw Enforcement at 250.425.6820, or email bleo@sparwood.ca, or fill out a Service Request form available on our website at https://www.sparwood.ca/residents/report-a-problem-or-request-service." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **What happens next:** For visible graffiti, a bylaw officer may give written direction to the owner or occupier. Remove the graffiti within 15 days of receiving that direction. - Source: [Community Standards Bylaw No. 1194, 2018, Graffiti, written direction and removal](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/78976) - Official wording: "A person shall not allow Graffiti to remain on their Property in such a manner as to be visible from a Highway, Public Place or other Property. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer may direct in writing that Graffiti be removed from property by the owner or occupier of Property. Where a person has received written direction pursuant to Section 8.2, that person shall cause such Graffiti to be removed within fifteen (15) days of receipt of such written direction." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Fine:** A bylaw notice for permitting a property to become or remain unsightly is $250, reduced to $125 if paid within 14 days of receiving the notice. - Source: [Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 1333, 2024, Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 1333, Schedule B, Community Standards section 7.1 and section 5](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894) - Official wording: "Community Standards Bylaw 1194, 2018 Column 1 Column2 Column3" … "Section Bylaw Contravention Penalty Early (MaxtmumSO% payment reduction in penaltya,mount where Compliance Agreement is showo as '!Yes�•)" … "7.1 Permit property to become/remain unsightly $250.00 $125.00 Yes" … "Page 1 of 29b. if payment is received by the District within 14 days of the person receiving or being presumed to have received the bylaw notice, the Early Payment. 6. PERIOD FOR PAYING A DISPUTED NOTICE" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 - **Bylaw:** Community Standards Bylaw No. 1194, 2018. - Source: [Community Standards Bylaw No. 1194, 2018, Community Standards Bylaw, property maintenance](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/78976) - Official wording: "1.1 This bylaw may be cited as "Community Standards Bylaw 1194, 2018"." … "7.21 An owner or occupier of a Property shall keep all construction material in a tidy and orderly condition and all construction material and equipment shall be properly stored when not in" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-09 ## How it works Describe the condition a bylaw officer could locate on the property. An address, the part of the lot affected and a description of what has accumulated are more helpful than a general description of the property as untidy. Examples include derelict vehicles, rubbish and vegetation blocking visibility. ## Steps 1. For the local rules or complaint route, use [Unsightly Properties: News & Updates - District of Sparwood, B.C.](https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/news-updates/post/unsightly-properties). Write down the civic address or nearest identifiable location. Describe the material, vegetation or structure you are concerned about and how long you have observed it. 2. Report the condition through the local complaint channel. If you include a photograph, explain when it was taken and which part of the property it shows. 3. Email bleo@sparwood.ca or file a District service request. The District’s unsightly-property notice also lists 250-425-6820. ## Good to know - For visible graffiti, a bylaw officer may give written direction to the owner or occupier. Remove the graffiti within 15 days of receiving that direction. - A bylaw notice for permitting a property to become or remain unsightly is $250, reduced to $125 if paid within 14 days of receiving the notice. - Keep a copy of what you submitted. Use the same address and any reference number if you later have more information about the original complaint. - Read the applicable provisions in [Community Standards Bylaw No. 1194, 2018 (PDF)](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/78976) and [Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 1333, 2024 (PDF)](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894). ## Related questions - [Sparwood noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/noise-rules.md) - [Sparwood bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md) - [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/unsightly-property.md) - [Elkford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/elkford/unsightly-property.md) - [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/unsightly-property.md) - [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/unsightly-property.md) - [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/unsightly-property.md) - [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/unsightly-property.md) ## Sources - [Unsightly Properties: News & Updates - District of Sparwood, B.C.](https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/news-updates/post/unsightly-properties) (read 2026-11-09) - [Community Standards Bylaw No. 1194, 2018 (PDF)](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/78976) (read 2026-11-09) - [Bylaw Enforcement Notice Bylaw No. 1333, 2024 (PDF)](https://sparwood.civicweb.net/document/151894) (read 2026-11-09) - [Bylaw Enforcement](https://www.sparwood.ca/municipal-hall/bylaw-enforcement) (read 2026-11-09) _Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Sparwood. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/unsightly-property/_