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

# Surrey unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** Report it to the City of Surrey's Bylaw Services through Report a Problem, 604-591-4370 or bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca. An inspector serves the owner a notice saying what to fix and how long they have. If it is not done, the City can do the work and charge the owner.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Surrey, https://www.surrey.ca)  
**Cost:** Bylaw notice $300; municipal ticket $500. Graffiti: bylaw notice $300; municipal ticket $250. The City's clean-up costs are charged to the owner.  
**Where:**
- Online: Report a Problem, https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request
- Phone: Bylaw Services, 604-591-4370
- Email: Bylaw Services, bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupants must not let property become or stay unsightly: accumulated junk, filth, litter, brush, refuse, rubbish or graffiti; broken or rotting fences; dead or uncontrolled landscaping; neglected buildings. Grass must be kept living and no taller than 20 cm, and property free of heavy undergrowth and weeds. Wrecked or inoperative vehicles, trailers and boats may not be stored unless lawfully permitted.
  - Source: [Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law, 2007, No. 16393 (consolidated to Bylaw 20687, 2022), s. 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 3.5](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393)
  - Official wording: "the accumulation of junk, filth, litter, brush, discarded materials, refuse," … "landscaping that is dead, characterized by uncontrolled growth or lack of" … "No owner or occupant of property within the City of Surrey shall permit or allow the" … "shall permit or allow an infestation of the property by caterpillars or other noxious or destructive insects" … "No mechanical equipment, vehicle, trailer or boat or a remnant or any part of them, or" … "Where grass forms part of the ground cover on property, it shall be maintained in a living" … "condition and at a height of not more than 20 centimetres." … "All property shall be kept free of heavy undergrowth and weeds."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Services at 604-591-4370, report online through Report a Problem (the City does not accept anonymous requests), or email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca.
  - Source: [Bylaw & Licensing Services, Report a problem](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/city-departments/public-safety/bylaw-licensing-services)
  - Official wording: "Call 604-591-4370 - Submit a report online through Report a Problem" … "Email bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca for bylaw complaints"
  - Source: [Report a Problem or Submit a Request, How to report](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request)
  - Official wording: "We do not accept anonymous requests."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** An Inspector who finds a property unsightly serves the owner or occupant with a notice stating what to fix and the time allowed. If it is not done, the City may enter and do the work at the owner's expense; unpaid costs by December 31 are added to the property taxes. The owner may also be prosecuted.
  - Source: [Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law, 2007, No. 16393 (consolidated to Bylaw 20687, 2022), s. 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393)
  - Official wording: "an Inspector shall serve on the owner or occupant of the" … "must be remedied within the time prescribed in the notice" … "the City, by its employees or other persons, at reasonable times and in a reasonable" … "shall be added to and form part of the taxes payable on the property as taxes in arrears"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Unsightly property or accumulation of rubbish: bylaw notice $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $350 if late); municipal ticket $500. Graffiti: bylaw notice $300 ($250 / $350); municipal ticket $250.
  - Source: [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A, Part 4](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691)
  - Official wording: "16393 2.1 Permit unsightly property $300.00 $250.00 $350.00" … "16393 2.2 Place graffiti $300.00 $250.00 $350.00"
  - Source: [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508, Schedule 21](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf)
  - Official wording: "1. Permit unsightly property 2.1 $500.00" … "2. Place graffiti 2.2 $250.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law, 2007, No. 16393
  - Source: [Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law, 2007, No. 16393 (consolidated to Bylaw 20687, 2022), s. 1.1](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393)
  - Official wording: "This By-law may be cited as the "Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the [Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law 16393](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393), owners and occupants must not let property in Surrey become or stay unsightly. That covers accumulated junk, filth, litter, brush, refuse, rubbish or graffiti; broken or rotting fences; dead or uncontrolled landscaping; and neglected buildings. Grass must be kept living and no taller than 20 cm, and the property free of heavy undergrowth and weeds. Wrecked or inoperative vehicles, trailers and boats may not be stored unless lawfully permitted.

## Steps

1. Report the address and what you see through Report a Problem, by phone at 604-591-4370, or by email to bylawcomplaint@surrey.ca. The City does not accept anonymous requests.
2. An Inspector who finds the property unsightly serves the owner or occupant with a notice stating what to fix and the time allowed.
3. If it is not done, the City may enter and do the work at the owner's expense.

## Good to know

- Costs unpaid by December 31 are added to the property taxes. The owner may also be prosecuted.
- Unsightly property or accumulation of rubbish: bylaw notice $300 ($250 if paid within 14 days; $350 if late); municipal ticket $500. Graffiti: bylaw notice $300 ($250 / $350); municipal ticket $250.
- On conviction in court the fine is $100 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law 16393 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393)

## Related questions

- [Surrey bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Langley City](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/unsightly-property.md)
- [White Rock](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/unsightly-property.md)
- [New Westminster](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/unsightly-property.md)
- [Port Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-coquitlam/unsightly-property.md)
- [Township of Langley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/unsightly-property.md)
- [Coquitlam](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coquitlam/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Surrey Property Maintenance and Unsightly Premises By-law, 2007, No. 16393 (consolidated to Bylaw 20687, 2022)](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/16393) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw & Licensing Services, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/city-departments/public-safety/bylaw-licensing-services) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Report a Problem or Submit a Request, City of Surrey](https://www.surrey.ca/services-payments/report-problem-or-submit-request) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, 2016, No. 18691, Schedule A](https://www.surrey.ca/city-government/bylaws/18691) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Surrey Municipal Ticket Information Utilization By-law, 1994, No. 12508 (PDF)](https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/BYL_reg_12508.pdf) (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 City of Surrey. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/unsightly-property/_