---
title: Telkwa unsightly property rules and how to report
question: "How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Telkwa?"
place: Telkwa, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/telkwa
category: Bylaws, noise and complaints
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Telkwa
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/unsightly-property/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/unsightly-property.json"
---

# Telkwa unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In Telkwa, report an unsightly property to the Village Office at 250-846-5212 or info@telkwa.ca. The Good Neighbour Bylaw bans accumulated rubbish, derelict vehicles, noxious weeds and similar conditions. The ticket is $159.45 for most offences.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Telkwa, https://www.telkwa.ca)  
**Cost:** Ticket: unsightly property $159.45; rubbish $159.45; noxious weeds $159.45; derelict vehicle $318.90; unsanitary conditions $265.75; graffiti $531.50.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-846-5212 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.))
- Email: Village Office and bylaw complaints, info@telkwa.ca
- In person: Village Office, 1415 Hankin Ave, Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let noxious, offensive or unwholesome material (refuse, junk, derelict vehicles) collect, let property become or stay unsightly, or allow standing water, unsanitary conditions, noxious weeds, or trees or growth that are a safety hazard. Graffiti and dumping on a highway are also banned.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008, ss. 4, 5, 6](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/)
  - Official wording: "No owner or occupier shall cause or permit noxious, offensive or unwholesome material to collect or accumulate on or around the property of that owner or occupier." … "No owner or occupier shall allow their property to become or to remain unsightly." … "No person shall place graffiti in such a manner as to be visible from a highway, public place or other property."
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008, ss. 8, 9](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/)
  - Official wording: "to store up to two (2) derelict vehicles visible from another property, highway, or other public place provided that the only reason the derelict vehicle is derelict is because it is unlicensed"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **How to report:** Call the Village Office (250-846-5212) or email info@telkwa.ca. Complaints must be in written form (in person, by mail, electronically) or by phone to be valid.
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaw Complaints](https://www.telkwa.ca/bylaw)
  - Official wording: "If you would like to submit a complaint, you can do so by calling the Village Office or sending an email to info(at)telkwa.ca"
  - Source: [Bylaws and Policies, Bylaws and Policies page](https://www.telkwa.ca/bylaws-policies)
  - Official wording: "Any complaints involving alleged violations of a Bylaw must be submitted in written form in person, through mail, electronically or by phone to be considered valid."
  - Source: [Contact, Municipal Office](https://www.telkwa.ca/contact)
  - Official wording: "Telkwa, BC V0J 2X0 Phone: 250-846-5212" … "Fax: 250-846-9572 Email: info@telkwa.ca"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **What happens next:** The Bylaw Enforcement Officer may give notice requiring compliance within a stated time. If ignored, Council may order compliance after the owner has a chance to be heard. If the order is ignored, the Village may do the work and recover the cost from the owner or occupier.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008, ss. 16 to 19](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/)
  - Official wording: "by notice, require the owner or occupier of the property to comply with this Bylaw within a time period stated in the notice" … "the Council shall give an opportunity to the owner or occupier of the property to appear before Council to be heard" … "may take action under section 17 of the Community Charter to fulfill the requirements of the order and to recover the costs from the owner or occupier of the property"
  - Source: [Bylaws, Bylaw Complaints](https://www.telkwa.ca/bylaw)
  - Official wording: "In most cases, the Village will seek voluntary compliance first before invoking various enforcement methods."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Unsightly property $159.45; rubbish accumulating $159.45; noxious weeds $159.45; derelict vehicle $318.90; unsanitary conditions $265.75; graffiti $531.50.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025, Schedule B, Good Neighbour Bylaw](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/)
  - Official wording: "Permit Rubbish to Accumulate 4 $ 159.45" … "Allow Property to Become or Remain 5 $ 159.45" … "Place Graffiti 6 $ 531.50" … "Permit the Storage of Derelict Vehicles 8 $ 318.90" … "Permit Unsanitary Conditions 11 $ 265.75"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Village of Telkwa Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008, title](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/)
  - Official wording: "GOOD NEIGHBOUR BYLAW NO. 587, 2008"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008](<https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/>) requires owners and occupiers not to let noxious, offensive or unwholesome material (refuse, junk, derelict vehicles) collect, and not to let property become or stay unsightly. It also covers standing water, unsanitary conditions, noxious weeds, and trees or growth that are a safety hazard. Graffiti and dumping on a highway are banned. Seasoned untreated firewood stored for use is excluded.

## Steps

1. Call the Village Office (250-846-5212) or email info@telkwa.ca. A complaint must be in written form (in person, by mail, electronically) or by phone to be valid.
2. The Bylaw Enforcement Officer may give notice requiring compliance within a stated time.
3. If it is ignored, Council may order compliance after the owner has a chance to be heard.
4. If that order is ignored, the Village may do the work and recover the cost from the owner or occupier.

## Good to know

- Tickets under the [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025](<https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/>): $159.45 for unsightly property, rubbish and noxious weeds; $318.90 for a derelict vehicle; $265.75 for unsanitary conditions; $531.50 for graffiti.
- Each day is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008 (PDF)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025 (PDF)](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/)

## Related questions

- [Telkwa noise bylaw: quiet hours, construction hours and fines](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/noise-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/unsightly-property.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/unsightly-property.md)
- [Granisle](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/granisle/unsightly-property.md)
- [New Hazelton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-hazelton/unsightly-property.md)
- [Terrace](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/unsightly-property.md)
- [Kitimat](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kitimat/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 587, 2008 (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/6164/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 792, 2025 (PDF), Village of Telkwa](https://telkwa.civicweb.net/document/36216/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/bylaw) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Policies, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/bylaws-policies) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Telkwa](https://www.telkwa.ca/contact) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Telkwa. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/unsightly-property/_