Trail unsightly property rules and how to report
How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in Trail?
Report an unsightly or overgrown property in the City of Trail through the City's online bylaw service request form or by calling Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833. The Unsightly Premises Bylaw covers rubbish, junk vehicles, graffiti and grass over 15 cm on developed property.
Key facts
| What counts | Owners or occupiers must not let a parcel become unsightly: stored building material (without a permit), unlicensed or non-running vehicles in view, rubbish or scrap, grass over 15 cm on developed property, graffiti visible from public places, uncovered garbage, or an unsightly structure (broken or boarded windows, peeling paint, damaged siding).Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw 2848), s. 1.1, 2.1, 2.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo owner or occupier shall cause, allow or permit a parcel to become or to remain unsightly including allowing a grass lawn on a developed property to grow higher than 15 centimeters No owner or occupier of a parcel shall cause, allow or permit graffiti a broken window or windows |
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| How to report | Use the City's online bylaw service request form, or call Bylaw Enforcement at 250-364-0833. The City treats complainants as a confidential source.Bylaw Enforcement, Bylaw Enforcement page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTo register a bylaw-related complaint, please use the electronic service request form above to report a problem or contact the Bylaw Enforcement Department at 250-364-0833. considers a complainant to be a confidential source |
| What happens next | A bylaw officer may send a demand letter with 14 days to fix it. If still unfixed, Council may issue a removal order with 30 days. After that the City may clean up at the owner's cost; unpaid costs are added to property taxes.Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw 2848), s. 4.1-4.2, 5.1-5.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingthe Bylaw Enforcement Officer may deliver a Demand Letter to both the owner and the occupier of the parcel the Council may issue a Removal Order: at the expense of the owner, enter on the parcel and remove, clear or remedy the City shall add the cost of the work to the taxes due and owing on the affected parcel |
| Fine | No ticket amount found. On conviction the penalty is $1,000 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw 2848), s. 6.1-6.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingto a penalty of not more than $10,000.00 and not less than $1,000.00 Each day that a violation continues to exist is a separate offence |
| Bylaw | Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw No. 2848, 2018)Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw 2848), s. 8.1, cover · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited for all purposes as the “Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669 , 2008”. Bylaw No. 2848 July 16, 2018 |
How it works
The Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 says an owner or occupier in the City of Trail must not let a parcel become unsightly. That includes: stored building material (without a permit), unlicensed or non-running vehicles in view, rubbish or scrap, grass over 15 cm on developed property, graffiti visible from public places, uncovered garbage, and an unsightly structure (broken or boarded windows, peeling paint, damaged siding). Building material is allowed with a valid building permit, in a closed building, or if the owner sells building material. Vehicles may be kept in a closed building.
Steps
- Use the online bylaw service request form on the City's Bylaw Enforcement page, or call 250-364-0833.
- Give the address and describe what you see. The City treats complainants as a confidential source.
- A bylaw officer may send the owner a demand letter giving 14 days to fix it.
- If it is still not fixed, Council may issue a removal order with 30 days. After that the City may clean up at the owner's cost.
Good to know
- Unpaid cleanup costs are added to the property taxes.
- I found no ticket amount. On conviction, the penalty is $1,000 to $10,000, and each day is a separate offence.
- The City may enter the property between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to check or clean up.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Warfield · Rossland · Montrose · Fruitvale · Castlegar · Salmo
Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality →
Sources
- Unsightly Premises Bylaw No. 2669, 2008 (consolidated with Bylaw 2848), City of Trail (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Enforcement, City of Trail (read 2026-11-06)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.