{"title":"Summerland unsightly property rules and how to report","question":"How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?","slug":"unsightly-property","place":{"path":"ca/bc/summerland","name":"Summerland","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Summerland","url":"https://www.summerland.ca"},"short_answer":"In Summerland, report an unsightly or overgrown property to Bylaw Services using the online complaint form or bylaw@summerland.ca. Good Neighbour Bylaw 2021-023 bans rubbish, noxious weeds, derelict vehicles and similar buildup, and officers can order the owner to clean up within 14 days.","aliases":["messy yard summerland","overgrown weeds neighbour","junk on property summerland","property maintenance bylaw"],"cost":"Bylaw notice $250 for unsightly property and $100 for specific items such as rubbish or weeds. Municipal ticket $250 and $100.","how_long":"An order to comply normally gives 14 days after it is served (10 days for a vacant building in disrepair), or longer if reasonable.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Bylaw complaint form","value":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"bylaw@summerland.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall (return the complaint form)","value":"13211 Henry Avenue, Summerland, BC"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Services","value":"250-494-6451 ext. 4"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)","url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Summerland bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"noise-rules","title":"Summerland noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/noise-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/penticton","name":"Penticton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/keremeos","name":"Keremeos","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/unsightly-property/"}],"topic":{"title":"Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property/"},"facts":{"what_counts":{"label":"What counts","value":"Owners and occupiers must not let property become or stay unsightly. No accumulation of water, filth, rubbish or demolition waste; dead landscaping or noxious weeds; derelict vehicles, boats or trailers; vehicle parts; noxious materials; unstacked firewood; or building materials over 15 days (unless permitted, under a building permit or stored out of sight). Graffiti must be removed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)","section":"ss. 5.2, 5.5, 10.3","quotes":["No owner or occupier of real property shall permit or allow the real property to","permit the accumulation of dead landscaping, vegetation, noxious weeds","keep a derelict vehicle of any sort, including but not limited to a motor","for more than fifteen (15) days unless:","Every owner or occupier of real property shall keep any wall, building, fence, sign","the owner of the real property is in possession of a valid building"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Use the online complaint form, email bylaw@summerland.ca, or return the complaint form in person or by mail to Municipal Hall, 13211 Henry Avenue. Anonymous complaints are not investigated. Call 250-494-6451 ext. 4.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint","title":"Bylaw Complaint, District of Summerland","section":"How to report","quotes":["By email: send your complaint, or the completed complaint form, to bylaw@summerland.ca.","Anonymous complaints will not be investigated."]},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Summerland","section":"Questions?","quotes":["Contact Bylaw Services at 250-494-6451 ext. 4 or bylaw@summerland.ca"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"process":{"label":"What happens next","value":"The District first seeks voluntary compliance. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can then issue an order to comply: 14 days from service (10 days for a vacant building in disrepair), or longer if reasonable. If it is not done and the owner has had a chance to be heard, the District may do the work at the owner's cost; unpaid costs are added to the property taxes.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)","section":"ss. 13.2, 13.5","quotes":["requiring the person to remedy the nuisance or non-compliance within fourteen","(14) days of deemed service or ten (10) days in the case of a contravention of","the District, by its employees, contractors and agents may","enter the real property and effect compliance with the order to comply at the","expense of the owner."]},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Summerland","section":"Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement","quotes":["Reasonable attempts will be made to secure voluntary compliance prior to initiating any manner of enforcement action."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Allowing an unsightly property (s. 5.2): bylaw notice $250 ($225 within 14 days; $275 after 28 days); municipal ticket $250. The specific items in s. 5.5 (rubbish, dead vegetation or weeds, derelict vehicle, vehicle parts, unstacked firewood, building materials): $100 ($90; $110) on both.","short":"Notice $250 ($225 within 14 days); ticket $250","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Good Neighbour Bylaw s. 5.2, 5.5","quotes":["Allow unsightly property 5.2 $250.00 $225.00 $275.00","Keep a derelict vehicle 5.5(c) $100.00 $90.00 $110.00","Unstacked firewood 5.5(f) $100.00 $90.00 $110.00"]},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule 8","quotes":["Allow unsightly property 5.2 $250.00","Keep a derelict vehicle 5.5(c) $100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (Part 5, Property Maintenance)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["8. Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023"]},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)","section":"Part 5","quotes":["5. PROPERTY MAINTENANCE 5.1 No owner or occupier of real property shall permit any act to be done which","THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SUMMERLAND BYLAW NO. 2021-023 A bylaw for the purpose of preventing, abating, and prohibiting"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf) (Part 5), owners and occupiers in the District of Summerland must not let property become or stay unsightly. The bylaw bans accumulations of water, filth, rubbish or demolition waste; dead landscaping or noxious weeds; derelict vehicles, boats or trailers; vehicle parts; noxious materials; and firewood that is not stacked. Firewood is allowed in open stacked rows no wider than 1.2 m and no higher than 1.5 m.\n\nBuilding materials may stay no more than 15 days, unless they are permitted, covered by a building permit, or stored out of sight. Graffiti must be removed. Vacant buildings in disrepair and rental properties kept below the neighbourhood standard are also covered.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Note the address and take photos if you can.\n2. File a complaint: use the online form, email bylaw@summerland.ca, or return the complaint form in person or by mail to Municipal Hall. Give your name and phone number; anonymous complaints are not investigated.\n3. The District first seeks voluntary compliance. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can then issue an order to comply.\n4. If the work is not done and the owner has had a chance to be heard, the District may do it at the owner's cost. Unpaid costs are added to the property taxes.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Ticket for allowing an unsightly property: a bylaw notice is $250 ($225 within 14 days; $275 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $250.\n- Specific items (rubbish, dead vegetation or weeds, derelict vehicle, vehicle parts, unstacked firewood, building materials): a bylaw notice is $100 ($90; $110); a municipal ticket is $100.\n- Failing to comply with an order is a $250 ticket on both schedules.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf","title":"Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/mti-system-bylaw-95-030---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint","title":"Bylaw Complaint, District of Summerland","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services","title":"Bylaw Services, District of Summerland","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property.json"}}