{"title":"White Rock unsightly property rules and how to report","question":"How do I report an unsightly or overgrown property in White Rock?","slug":"unsightly-property","place":{"path":"ca/bc/white-rock","name":"White Rock","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"bylaws-and-complaints","name":"Bylaws, noise and complaints"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"City of White Rock","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca"},"short_answer":"In White Rock, submit a Request for Service online, email bylaw@whiterockcity.ca or call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146. Under the Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw, a ticket for most unsightly conditions is $250, and $2,000 for a nuisance property.","aliases":["overgrown lawn white rock","messy yard bylaw white rock","graffiti white rock bylaw","junk on property white rock"],"cost":"Ticket $250 for most unsightly conditions; $2,000 for a nuisance property.","how_long":"Not stated. The officer's Compliance Notice sets the date for the owner to fix the problem.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Request for Service (Unsightly Property)","value":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/728/Request-for-Service"},{"type":"phone","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"604-541-2146"},{"type":"email","label":"Bylaw Enforcement","value":"bylaw@whiterockcity.ca"}],"documents":["Both civic addresses, your contact information and a detailed description of the problem"],"forms":[{"title":"Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw No. 2019 (PDF)","url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF"}],"related":[{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"White Rock bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/bylaw-fines/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"White Rock fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/surrey","name":"Surrey","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/surrey/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley","name":"Langley City","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/langley-township","name":"Township of Langley","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langley-township/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/delta","name":"Delta","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/delta/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/new-westminster","name":"New Westminster","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/new-westminster/unsightly-property/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/unsightly-property/"}],"topic":{"title":"Unsightly property fines in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/unsightly-property/"},"facts":{"what_counts":{"label":"What counts","value":"An owner or occupier must not allow a nuisance or unsightly conditions. This includes accumulated refuse, rubbish or discarded materials, unsanitary conditions, trees, weeds or growth that should be cut, graffiti, rodent or insect infestation, outside storage of household items or building materials, and storing a vehicle, boat or RV on any landscaped part. Grass not kept below 30 cm counts as unsightly.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF","title":"Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw 2013, No. 2019 (consolidated 2015) (PDF)","section":"ss. 3, 5, 6.3","quotes":["No owner or occupier shall cause or permit unsightly conditions on real property","trees, weeds or other growths that Council considers should be removed, cut","the outside storage of household items, building materials, tools or other items","the storage of a vehicle, boat or recreation vehicle on any landscaped portion.","which is not maintained below 30cm in height"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"how_to_report":{"label":"How to report","value":"Submit a Request for Service online (Unsightly Property), email bylaw@whiterockcity.ca, or call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146. Include both civic addresses, your contact information and a detailed description; the complainant's identity is kept confidential.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/176/Bylaw-Enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of White Rock","section":"Inquiries & Complaints","quotes":["Call Bylaw Enforcement at 604-541-2146","Email Bylaw Enforcement at bylaw@whiterockcity.ca","Detailed Description of Complaint"]},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/176/Bylaw-Enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of White Rock","section":"FAQ","quotes":["To file a complaint, please submit a Request for Service or email Bylaw Enforcement"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"process":{"label":"What happens next","value":"A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may issue a Compliance Notice giving a date to fix the problem. The owner may ask the Corporate Officer for a chance to be heard. If not fixed, the City may issue fines, deem the property a nuisance property, or do the work and recover the cost from the owner as a debt or as property taxes.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF","title":"Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw 2013, No. 2019 (consolidated 2015) (PDF)","section":"ss. 3, 7.2-7.4","quotes":["a Bylaw Enforcement Officer may issue a Compliance Notice","may apply to the Corporate Officer for a chance to be heard","remedy the non-compliance at the expense of the","owner or occupier"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Nuisance or unsightly conditions: $250. Specific listed conditions (accumulation, unsanitary conditions, overgrowth, infestation, outside storage, vehicle on landscaping, graffiti, unsecured vacant property): $250 each. Nuisance property, or unsightly conditions on a nuisance property: $2,000. Dumping sweepings or rubbish in a public place: $1,000.","short":"$250","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF","title":"Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated) (PDF)","section":"Schedule B12","quotes":["Nuisance or unsightly conditions","$250.00","Nuisance property","$2000.00","Placement of sweepings, ashes, refuse, rubbish or","$1000.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"White Rock Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw, 2013, No. 2019","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF","title":"Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw 2013, No. 2019 (consolidated 2015) (PDF)","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"White Rock Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement","Bylaw, 2013, No. 2019.\""]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":5,"stated":5,"matched":5,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe City of White Rock's [Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw 2019](https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF) says an owner or occupier must not allow a nuisance or unsightly conditions. That includes accumulated refuse or discarded materials, unsanitary conditions, trees, weeds or growth that should be cut, graffiti, rodent or insect infestation, outside storage of household items or building materials, and a vehicle, boat or RV stored on any landscaped part. Grass not kept below 30 cm counts as unsightly.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Submit a Request for Service online (Unsightly Property), email bylaw@whiterockcity.ca, or call 604-541-2146.\n2. Give both civic addresses, your contact information and a detailed description. Your identity is kept confidential.\n3. A Bylaw Enforcement Officer may issue a Compliance Notice giving the owner a date to fix the problem.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- The owner may ask the Corporate Officer for a chance to be heard.\n- If the problem is not fixed, the City may issue fines, deem the property a nuisance property, or do the work and recover the cost from the owner as a debt or as property taxes.\n- A nuisance property is one with Compliance Notices on three or more occasions in any twelve-month period, or where a notice was not obeyed.\n- Graffiti: the owner must remove or cover it within 48 hours of a City notice.\n- Tickets: $250 for nuisance or unsightly conditions, including each listed condition; $2,000 for a nuisance property or unsightly conditions on one; $1,000 for dumping sweepings or rubbish in a public place. A court fine can be $1,000 to $10,000.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/311/Unsightly-Premises-and-Graffiti-Abatement-Bylaw-2013-Number-2019-PDF","title":"Unsightly Premises and Graffiti Abatement Bylaw 2013, No. 2019 (consolidated 2015) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/DocumentCenter/View/2072/Consolidated---Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences-2011-No-1929-PDF","title":"Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw 2011, No. 1929 (consolidated) (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.whiterockcity.ca/176/Bylaw-Enforcement","title":"Bylaw Enforcement, City of White Rock","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 5 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/unsightly-property/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/unsightly-property.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/white-rock/unsightly-property.json"}}