---
title: Summerland unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?"
place: Summerland, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/summerland
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Summerland
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Summerland unsightly property rules and how to report

**Question:** How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property?

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Summerland, https://www.summerland.ca)  
**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:**
- Online: Bylaw complaint form, https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylaw@summerland.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall (return the complaint form), 13211 Henry Avenue, Summerland, BC
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 250-494-6451 ext. 4

## Key facts

- **What counts:** 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.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023, ss. 5.2, 5.5, 10.3](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Complaint, How to report](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint)
  - Official wording: "By email: send your complaint, or the completed complaint form, to bylaw@summerland.ca." … "Anonymous complaints will not be investigated."
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, Questions?](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services)
  - Official wording: "Contact Bylaw Services at 250-494-6451 ext. 4 or bylaw@summerland.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** 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.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023, ss. 13.2, 13.5](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Bylaw Services, Bylaw Compliance & Enforcement](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services)
  - Official wording: "Reasonable attempts will be made to secure voluntary compliance prior to initiating any manner of enforcement action."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (consolidated to December 9, 2025), Schedule A, Good Neighbour Bylaw s. 5.2, 5.5](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025), Schedule 8](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)
  - Official wording: "Allow unsightly property 5.2 $250.00" … "Keep a derelict vehicle 5.5(c) $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (Part 5, Property Maintenance)
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025), Schedule A](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)
  - Official wording: "8. Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023"
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023, Part 5](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under 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.

Building 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.

## Steps

1. Note the address and take photos if you can.
2. 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.
3. The District first seeks voluntary compliance. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer can then issue an order to comply.
4. 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.

## Good to know

- Ticket for allowing an unsightly property: a bylaw notice is $250 ($225 within 14 days; $275 after 28 days); a municipal ticket is $250.
- 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.
- Failing to comply with an order is a $250 ticket on both schedules.

## Official forms and pages

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Summerland bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Summerland noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Penticton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/unsightly-property.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/unsightly-property.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/unsightly-property.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/unsightly-property.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/good-neighbour-bylaw-no-2021-023dadb9f5cf68d6e33909cff00007e7f94.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)](https://www.summerland.ca/docs/default-source/your-city-hall/bylaws---policies/district-bylaws/bneb-no-2000-375---consolidated-to-december-9-2025.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 95-030 (consolidated to December 9, 2025) (PDF)](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) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Complaint, District of Summerland](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw_enforcement_complaint) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Services, District of Summerland](https://www.summerland.ca/city-services/bylaw-services/bylaw-services) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Summerland. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/unsightly-property/_