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

# Vernon unsightly property rules and how to report

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

**Short answer:** In the City of Vernon, call Bylaw Compliance at 250-550-3505, use its online form or the VernonConnect app to report rubbish, weeds or an unsightly property. Under the Good Neighbour Bylaw, an officer can order the owner to fix it within 14 days.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Vernon, https://www.vernon.ca)  
**Cost:** Unsightly property: bylaw notice $50 ($40 if paid within 14 days, $60 after 28 days); municipal ticket $100. Rubbish accumulating: notice $100 ($90 early, $120 late); ticket $200. Overgrowth: notice $50; ticket $100. The City can add its clean-up costs to the property taxes.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Bylaw Compliance, 250-550-3505 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Online: Bylaw Compliance contact form, https://www.vernon.ca/government-services/contact-directory/bylaw-compliance

## Key facts

- **What counts:** Owners and occupiers must not let rubbish or noxious or offensive matter collect, rubbish overflow a container, the property become or stay unsightly (visible filth, rubbish, graffiti or discarded materials, dead or uncontrolled vegetation, disrepair), or dead growth or noxious weeds build up. Farm operations are exempt.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980 (consolidated), s. 5.2, 5.3; Schedule D](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf)
  - Official wording: "the real property to become or remain unsightly;" … "the accumulation of dead landscaping, vegetation, noxious weeds or other growths to occur or to remain on the real property; or" … "rubbish to overflow from or accumulate around any container situate on the real property;" … "landscaping or vegetation that is dead or characterized by uncontrolled growth or lack of maintenance, or is damaged;" … "Part V of this Bylaw does not apply to farm operations conducted in accordance with normal farm practices" … "of filth, rubbish, graffiti or any other discarded materials;" … "the accumulation of dead landscaping, vegetation, noxious weeds"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **How to report:** Call Bylaw Compliance at 250-550-3505 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), use the online Bylaw Compliance contact form on vernon.ca (give the incident address; photo optional), or use the VernonConnect app.
  - Source: [Bylaw Compliance, Bylaw Compliance contact form](https://www.vernon.ca/government-services/contact-directory/bylaw-compliance)
  - Official wording: "Regular Bylaw Office hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm" … "Address of the Incident/Complaint" … "Image of the incident (optional)"
  - Source: [Recreational Cannabis in Vernon, Reporting concerns](https://www.vernon.ca/business/recreational-cannabis-vernon)
  - Official wording: "Citizens can call the Bylaw department at 250-550-3505." … "You can also use the VernonConnect app to report concerns."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **What happens next:** A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may issue a compliance order giving 14 days from delivery to fix the problem (24 hours for rubbish on a sidewalk). If the owner does not comply, the City may do the work without further notice and add the cost to the property taxes; the owner may also be prosecuted.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980 (consolidated), s. 5.8, 5.10, 5.12, 5.13](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf)
  - Official wording: "may issue an order requiring that the owner or occupier bring the real property into compliance" … "must be remedied within 14 days of the date of delivery of the notice, or, in the case of rubbish on a sidewalk or footpath, within 24 hours from the time the rubbish is deposited thereon" … "the City may, without further notice, proceed to carry out the work required, and the cost of such work will be added to the taxes of the real property" … "defaults in paying the cost referred to in Section 5.12 to the City within 30 days after receipt of a demand for payment"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Unsightly property (s. 5.3(c)): bylaw notice $50 ($40 early, $60 late); municipal ticket $100 ($90 early). Rubbish accumulating (5.3(a)): $100 notice ($90, $120); $200 ticket ($190). Overgrowth (5.3(d)): $50 notice; $100 ticket.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048, Schedule A (Good Neighbour Bylaw)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%206048.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5.3(c) Allow Property to become or $50.00 $40.00 $60.00 YES" … "5.3(a) Allow Rubbish/Matter to $100.00 $90.00 $120.00 YES" … "5.3(d) Allow accumulation of growth $50.00 $40.00 $60.00 YES"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 6049, Schedule B (Good Neighbour Bylaw)](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Municipal%20Ticketing%20Information%20Bylaw%206049.pdf)
  - Official wording: "5.3(c) Allow Property to become or $100.00 $90.00" … "5.3(a) Allow Rubbish/Matter to $200.00 $190.00" … "5.3(d) Allow accumulation of growth $100.00 $90.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Vernon Good Neighbour Bylaw Number 4980, 2005 (Part V, Property Maintenance)
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980 (consolidated), s. 1.1, Part V](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "City of Vernon Good Neighbour Bylaw Number 4980, 2005"."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Part V of the [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980](<https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf>) says owners and occupiers must not let rubbish or noxious or offensive matter collect, let rubbish overflow a container, or let the property become or stay unsightly (visible filth, rubbish, graffiti or discarded materials, dead or uncontrolled vegetation, disrepair). Dead growth and noxious weeds must not build up. Farm operations are exempt. Owners must also keep the boulevard and lane next to their property clear of debris and weeds.

## Steps

1. Note the address and, if you can, take a photo.
2. Call Bylaw Compliance at 250-550-3505, use the online contact form on vernon.ca, or use the VernonConnect app.
3. An officer may issue a compliance order giving 14 days from delivery to fix the problem (24 hours for rubbish on a sidewalk).
4. If the owner does not comply, the City may do the work without further notice and add the cost to the property taxes. The owner may also be prosecuted.

## Good to know

- More serious calls are attended first, so a response may take longer.
- Graffiti is covered by the separate Graffiti Bylaw 5010.
- Bylaw notices for these offences can be settled with a compliance agreement.

## Official forms and pages

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980 (PDF), Part V Property Maintenance](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/unsightly-property.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/unsightly-property.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/unsightly-property.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/unsightly-property.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/unsightly-property.md)

## Sources

- [Good Neighbour Bylaw 4980 (consolidated) (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/good_neighbour_bylaw_4980.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20Bylaw%206048.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF), City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/sites/default/files/docs/bylaws/Municipal%20Ticketing%20Information%20Bylaw%206049.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Compliance, City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/government-services/contact-directory/bylaw-compliance) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Recreational Cannabis in Vernon, City of Vernon](https://www.vernon.ca/business/recreational-cannabis-vernon) (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 Vernon. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/unsightly-property/_