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UNSIGHTLY PREMISES and MAINTENANCE BYLAW NO. 909, 2026
A bylaw to establish and enforce minimum standards for properties in the
District of Taylor
WHEREAS the Council of the District of Taylor wishes to ensure that properties within the District
are properly maintained and not allowed to become unsightly;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the District of Taylor may, by bylaw, regulate, prohibit, and impose
requirements with respect to the protection and enhancement of the well-being of its community
in relation to nuisances, disturbances and other objectionable situations;
AND WHEREAS the Council of the District of Taylor seeks to protect the community from
unsightly, hazardous and blighting conditions that contribute to the deterioration of
neighbourhoods, to provide for the abatement of such conditions, and to prescribe standards for
the maintenance of property;
NOW THEREFORE the Council of the District of Taylor, in open meeting assembled, ENACTS
AS FOLLOWS:
TITLE
1. This bylaw may be cited as “Unsightly Premises and Maintenance Bylaw No. 909, 2026”.
REPEAL
2. Unsightly Premises Bylaw No.873, 2023 is hereby repealed.
DEFINITIONS
3. In this bylaw:
"Boulevard" means the area between the property line and:
(a) the edge of the pavement or curb on an adjacent highway; or
(b) where there is no pavement or curb, the edge of the regularly travelled
portion of the adjacent highway, alleys, rights-of-way and utility corridors;
"Clean Up Order" means an order issued under Section 23 of this bylaw;
“Community Charter’ means the Community Charter, S.B.C. 2003, c. 26;
"Council" means the Council of the District of Taylor;
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
DEFINITIONS (continued)
3. In this bylaw:
“Derelict vehicle" means an unregistered motor vehicle or farm implement that is inoperable,
partially or totally disassembled, substantially damaged, wrecked, dilapidated, abandoned, or
is in a condition otherwise harmful to public health, safety, or welfare.
"Destructive insect" means any insect that is injurious, noxious and troublesome, and
includes, but not limited to: destructive defoliators and woody tissues feeders, such as
Sawflys, Caterpillars, Hoppers, Leafminers, Budworms, Loopers, Mites, Adelgid and
Aphids, Beetles, Weevils, Moths, Midges and Borers, and the list of quarantine pests
regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), under the Plant Protection
Act,
"Graffiti" means an unauthorized drawing, printing, or writing that is scratched, sprayed,
painted or scribbled on a wall or other surface by an individual or group,
"Grasses" means planted or wild vegetation including sod, turf and weeds but excluding
fireweed;
"Highway" has the same meaning as in the Community Charter,
"Inspector" means any person who has been appointed by Council to administer and
enforce this bylaw;
"Land" means any lot, block or other area in which land is held or into which it is
subdivided and includes any improvement on a parcel but excludes streets, lanes and
Municipality-owned parks and open spaces;
"Litter" means substances of no apparent economical value (which may include tins,
glass, fabric, discarded clothing, soiled bedding and linen, paper, cardboard, beverage
containers and food containers left or deposited outdoors) that can be discarded into a
standard household waste container, recycling bin, or garbage bag.
“Municipality” means the District of Taylor;
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
DEFINITIONS (continued)
3. In this bylaw:
"Noxious weed" means a plant that grows aggressively, multiplies quickly and adversely
affects native habitats and includes but is not limited to:
(a) Canada thistle, Russian thistle, marsh plume thistle, scentless chamomile,
ox-eye daisy, common daisy, common tansy, cleavers, green foxtail, wild
mustard, burdock, yellow and orange hawkweed, spotted and diffuse
knapweed;
(b) Every weed designated by regulation as a noxious weed under the Weed
Control Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 487;
(c) Every plant identified as an invasive plant by the Peace River Regional
District Invasive Plant Committee; and
(d) A seed of any plant specified above;
"Occupier" means a tenant, licensee or other person who occupies or is in possession of
a premise or premises or who has control over who is allowed to enter a premise or
premises;
"Overgrown" includes, with regard to grasses, grasses that are more than 20 cm in height;
"Owner" means, in respect of a premise or premises:
(a) the person registered as the owner in fee simple of the land or
improvement; and
(b) in the case of the absence or incapacity of the person registered as owner
of the land or improvement, a trustee, an executor, a guardian, an agent, a
mortgagee in possession or other person having the care or control of the
land or building;
“Owner's address" means either of the following:
(a) the address given for the owner on the certificate of title for the premise or
premises; or
(b) the most recent contact address provided by the owner to the Municipality;
"Person" includes a corporation and the heirs, executors, administrators or other legal
representatives of a person;
“Premise or premises" means an area of land with or without buildings;
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
DEFINITIONS (continued)
3. In this bylaw:
"Refuse" includes:
(a) liquid and solid waste, polluted water, discarded and disused materials,
rubbish and litter,
(b) refrigerators, washing machines, televisions, dryers, air conditioners,
vacuum cleaners and other household appliances, including their parts;
(c) indoor furniture and household goods, including but not limited to, couches,
desks, cabinets, mattresses, carpets and rugs, flooring material, books,
magazines;
(d) lights, computers, screens, mobile phones, alarm clocks, watches, stereos,
and other electrical appliances, including their parts;
(e) chattels stored in garbage bags or under tarpaulins;
(f) dilapidated or dismantled aircraft, boats, trailers;
(g) grass cuttings, shrubbery and tree pruning, garden waste; and
(h) explosives, flammable liquids, diesel fuel and gasoline products;
"Right-of-Way" is a legal agreement or interest in land allowing specific passage or use, often for
utilities, roads, or public access, without transferring ownership.
"Weeds Grass and Litter Order" means an order issued under Section 21 of this bylaw.
INSPECTORS
4. The Municipality's Fire Chief, Director of Operations and Bylaw Enforcement Officer are
appointed as Inspectors under this bylaw.
5. Council may, from time to time, appoint additional Inspectors by resolution.
RIGHT OF ENTRY
6. Pursuant to Section 16 of the Community Charter, an Inspector may enter into or upon
any premise or premises within the Municipality at any reasonable time, including for the
following purposes:
(a) to inspect and determine whether all regulations, prohibitions and requirements
imposed under or pursuant to this bylaw are being met;
(b) to take action on default of an order under this bylaw; and
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
RIGHT OF ENTRY (continued)
6. Pursuant to Section 16 of the Community Charter, an Inspector may enter into or upon
any premise or premises within the Municipality at any reasonable time, including for the
following purposes: (continued)
(c) to request anything to be produced to assist with an inspection, enforcement or
action on default performed for the purpose of this bylaw.
7. An Inspector shall display or produce identification upon the request of an occupant of
premise or premises that are the subject of an inspection or work performed by the
Municipality under this bylaw.
8. A person must not obstruct an Inspector in the performance of the Inspector's duties.
GENERAL PROHIBITIONS
9. No person shall plant, place or leave the following on a highway, in a park or public space,
or outside on any other land within the Municipality:
(a) refuse, unless placed in an appropriate receptacle;
(b) derelict vehicles;
(c) noxious weeds;
(d) destructive insects; or
(e) yard waste, grass clippings, and tree and hedge cuttings.
10. Noperson shall place graffiti on the exterior of any building, fence, or other structure.
BOULEVARD MAINTENANCE
11. The owner or occupier of a parcel abutting a boulevard must maintain the boulevard by:
(a) keeping the boulevard free of refuse, and noxious weeds;
(b) not parking vehicles on the boulevard;
(c) regularly cutting grasses on the boulevard and treating them for disease;
(d) keeping hedges and trees trimmed to prevent visual obstruction or other hazard.
12. No person shall damage any boulevard, injure or damage any tree, shrub, plant,
bush or hedge located on a boulevard.
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
BOULEVARD MAINTENANCE (continued)
13.
The owner or occupier shall not place the sweepings, ashes, or refuse from
their premises on public boulevards, streets or back alleys.
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS
14.
15.
16.
17.
No owner or occupier of a premise or premises shall cause or allow a fence or the
exterior of a building or other structure on the premise or premises to fall into disrepair or
to become a hazard.
No owner or occupier of a premise or premises shall cause or allow the following to be
placed outdoors on the premise or premises in a location that is visible from a highway
or neighbouring parcel:
(a) building materials, unless the owner or occupier of the premise or premises is in
possession of a valid building permit from the Municipality, authorizing construction
on those premise or premises;
(b) chattels belonging to the owner or occupant offered for sale (exceeding 14
days), if the premise or premises are within a residential zone under Zoning
Bylaw as amended from time to time, or
(c) graffiti.
The following exceptions apply to Section 15 of this bylaw:
(a) | Section 15(a) does not apply to a premise or premises containing a licensed
business that principally sells building materials;
(b) Section 15(b) does not apply to a garage sale on a premise or premises if the
garage sale has a duration of no more than two days and occurs a maximum of
two (2) times per calendar month.
No owner or occupier of a premise or premises(s) shall allow the premise or premises(s)
to contain an infestation of destructive insects.
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
PROPERTY MAINTENANCE STANDARDS (continued)
18. No owner or occupier of a premise or premises shall allow the following to be located
outdoors on the premise or premises, including on balconies, decks, patios or within
carports:
(a) refuse;
(b) derelict vehicles;
(c) an accumulation of yard waste, including an accumulation of grass clippings,
tree and hedge cuttings and compost piles; or
(d) weeds, brush, bush, trees, or other growth that constitutes a fire or health hazard.
19. Section 18(b) of this bylaw does not apply to a premise or premises containing a
licensed salvage yard or licensed automobile dealership.
20. No owner or occupier of a premise or premises shall allow the premise or premises to
contain the following:
(a) litter;
(b) overgrown grasses; or
(c) noxious weeds.
21. Snow Removal
(a) No person shall deposit or in any way cause to be deposited:
i. all Snow or ice moved from footpaths or driveways will be placed on their premise or
premises,and cannot be placed onto highways, municipal property, including
boulevards, ditches, utility corridors or rights-of-way. Except for the boulevard
abutting their premise or premises. Any material which must be removed from their
premise of premises will be placed in an area approved by the Director of
Operations; and
ii. any snow or ice from a sidewalk, premise or premises cannot be placed on any fire
hydrant or the area adjacent (1.5 metre in all directions) to a fire hydrant which in
any way blocks or prevents access or restricts visibility of the fire hydrant.
22. No owner or occupier of a premise or premises(s) will allow smelly or messy compost heaps,
23.
24.
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
excessive animal feces or the production of offensive odours.
Only compostable materials are permitted in the municipal compost site. Garbage and
household trash are not permitted.
No person will obstruct the drainage of surface water on or in any ditch or highway within the
municipality.
WEEDS, GRASS AND LITTER ORDER
25.
If an Inspector determines that an owner or occupier of a premise or premises has
contravened Section 20 of this bylaw, the Inspector may, with prior notice, issue a
Weeds, Grass and Litter Order requiring the owner or occupier to remedy the
contravention by doing any or all of the following on the premise or premises:
(a) removing and disposing of noxious weeds;
(b) cutting overgrown grasses and removing the cuttings from the premise or
premises;
(c) removing and disposing of litter, within the time and in the manner specified in
the Weeds, Grass and Litter Order; and
(d) trim and cut back any tree, shrub or landscape screen from a premise or
premises boarding a sidwalk or highway. If such tree, shrub or landscape
screen encroaches upon the sidewalk, impedes the use of the sidewalk or
highway, or impedes viewing of traffic signage.
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
WEEDS, GRASS AND LITTER ORDER (continued)
26.
A Weeds, Grass and Litter Order must:
(a) be in writing;
(b) identify the person who must fulfill the requirement;
(c) be posted in a conspicuous location on the premise or premises;
(d) be sent by regular mail to the owner's address;
(e) be sent by regular mail to the occupier of the premise or premises if the occupier
is the person who must fulfill the requirement;
(f) provide the owner or occupier of the premise or premises with no less than
seven (7) calendar days to fulfill the requirement after the date the Weeds, Grass
and Litter Order was posted on the premise or premises and sent; and
(g) advise that upon default, the Municipality may fulfil the requirement set out in the
Weeds, Grass and Litter Order and seek recovery of the costs incurred under
Section 17 of the Community Charter.
CLEAN UP ORDER
27.
28.
29.
If an Inspector determines that the regulations, prohibitions and requirements of this
bylaw are not being met with respect to a certain premise or premises, the Inspector
may, by notice, advise the owner or occupier of the premise or premises of the
contravention and request that compliance with this bylaw be achieved within the time
period stated in the notice.
If, after receiving a notice from an Inspector under Section 21 of this bylaw, an owner or
occupier fails to remedy a contravention occurring on the owner or occupier's premise or
premises, the Inspector may issue a Clean Up Order requiring the owner or occupier to
remedy the contravention in the manner specified and within the time specified in the
Clean Up Order.
A Clean Up Order must:
(a) be in writing;
(b) identify the person who must fulfill the requirement;
(c) be hand delivered to the address or sent by regular mail to the owner of the
premise or premises at the owner's address; and
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
CLEAN UP ORDER (continued)
25. A Clean Up Order must: (continued)
(d) be hand delivered to the address or sent by regular mail to the occupier, if the
occupier of the premise or premises is the person who must fulfill the
requirement;
(e) be sent by regular mail to the occupier of the premise or premises if:
i. the address of the premise or premises is different from the owner's
address; and
ii. the owner of the premise or premises is the person must fulfill the
requirement;
(f) be sent by regular mail to each holder of a registered charge in relation to the
premise or premises whose name is included on the assessment roll, if any, at
the address set out in that assessment roll and to any later address provided to
the Municipality;
(9) be posted in a conspicuous place on the premise or premises;
(h) provide the owner or occupier with no less than thirty (30) days to fulfill the
requirement after the date the Clean Up Order was posted on the premise or
premises and sent;
(i) advise that a person may request that Council reconsider the Clean Up Order in
accordance with this bylaw; and
@) advise that, upon default, the Municipality may fulfil the requirement set out in
the Clean Up Order and seek recovery of the costs incurred under Section 17
Community Charter.
27. If an Inspector concludes that a person is evading receipt of a Clean Up Order, the
Inspector may request that Council, by resolution, authorize steps to be taken as an
alternative to compliance with Section 25(c) or 25(d) of this bylaw.
28. A person may request to dispute a Clean Up Order by delivering a request in writing to
the Municipality's clerk within 14 days of the date on which the person received or is
presumed to have received Clean Up Order.
29. The dispute will go through the bylaw notice dispute adjudication process as outlined in
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 877, 2023.
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
REQUIREMENT AND ACTION ON DEFAULT
30.
31.
32.
An owner or occupier who is required to take action under a Clean Up Order or a
Weeds, Grass and Litter Order must comply with that order.
If the owner or occupier fails to comply with a Clean Up Order or a Weeds, Grass and
Litter Order, the Municipality may, by its employees, contractors and agents, enter onto
the premise or premises and take action in accordance with Section 17 of the
Community Charter and fulfil the requirements of the order and furthermore may recover
the cost of such action on default, including administrative costs equal to 15% of the
value of all contractor and agent invoices, from the person subject to the order. If such
costs remain unpaid by December 31 of the year in which they are owing, the costs may
be recovered as property taxes in arrears in accordance with Part 14 Section 258 of the
Community Charter.
If the Municipality's action on default includes the removal of one or more items from the
premise or premises, the Inspector may, as the inspector considers reasonable given
the nature, condition and market value of each item:
(a) dispose of the item after thirty (30) days;
(b) sell the item for salvage and credit the money received against the cost of acting
on default and any applicable storage fees; or
(c) auction the item and credit the money received against the cost of acting on
default.
ENFORCEMENT
33.
Any person designated as a Bylaw Enforcement Officer in the Bylaw Enforcement
Notice Bylaw or the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw are also hereby authorized and
empowered to enforce the provisions of this Bylaw to the Bylaw Notice Enforcement
Bylaw, as amended from time to time, or by the Municipal Ticket Information System
Bylaw No. 468, 1993 as amended from time to time.
OFFENCE AND PENALTIES
34.
The penalty for a contravention dealt with by bylaw notice in accordance with the Bylaw
Notice Enforcement Bylaw is as follows:
(a) The Penalty amount set out in Column A3 of Schedule "A" is payable for the
corresponding contravention except when subsections 32(b) or 32(c) apply;
(b) The early Payment Penalty set out in Column A4 of Schedule "A" applies if
payment is received by the District within 14 days of the person receiving or
being presumed to have received the bylaw notice; and
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Bylaw No. 909, 2026
OFFENCE AND PENALTIES (continued)
34. The penalty for a contravention dealt with by bylaw notice in accordance with the Bylaw
Notice Enforcement Bylaw is as follows: (continued)
(c) The Late Payment Penalty set out in Column A5 of Schedule "A" applies if
payment is received more than 31 days after the person received or is presumed
to have received the bylaw notice.
GENERAL
35. If any portion of this bylaw is held to be invalid by a decision of a Court of competent
jurisdiction, such invalidity will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this bylaw.
READ FOR THE FIRST THREE TIMES this__ 13th day of July 2026.
ADOPTED this 27th day of July 2026.
(
L Mayor 7’ Qorplbrate Officer
Bylaw No. 909, 2026
District of Taylor Unsightly Premises and Maintenance
Page 13
SCHEDULE A
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 Compliance
Section Description Penalty Early Late Agreement
(15-30 Payment Payment Available
Days) (1 14 31 -60 (50% of
Days) Days) Penalty)
(Collections
60+
8 Obstructing an Inspector 200 150 250 No
9 Illegal dumping 200 150 250 No
10 Applying graffiti 200 150 250 No
11(a) Fail to clear boulevard 200 150 250 Yes
11(b) Parking on boulevard 200 150 250 Yes
11(c) Fail to mow boulevard grass 200 150 250 Yes
11(d) Damage to plant on boulevard 200 150 250 Yes
12 Fail to trim hedge or tree 200 150 250 Yes
13 Dispose of sweepings, snow, 200 150 250 No
ashes, refuse on sidewalk, street
or in back alley
14 Dilapidated or unsafe structure 300 250 350 Yes
15(a) Building materials in view 200 100 250 Yes
15(b) Prohibited sales 200 100 250 Yes
15(c) Failure to remove graffiti 200 150 250 Yes
17 Destructive insect infestation 200 150 250 Yes
18(a) | Accumulation of refuse 200 150 250 Yes
18(b) Derelict vehicle or parts in view 200 150 250 Yes
Bylaw No. 909, 2026
District of Taylor Unsightly Premises and Maintenance
Page 14
SCHEDULE A
A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 Compliance
Section |Description Penalty Early Late Agreement
(15-30 Payment Payment Available
Days) (114 31 -60 (50% of
Days) Days) Penalty)
(Collections
60+
18(c) | Accumulation of yard waste 200 150 250 Yes
18(d) Hazardous plant growth 200 150 250 Yes
20(a) Litter on premise or premises 200 150 250 Yes
20(b) Failure to cut grass 200 100 250 Yes
~ 20(c) ‘| Noxious weeds on premise or 200 150 250 Yes
premises
20(d) Tree, shrub or landscape screen 200 150 250 Yes
encroachment
21(a){i) | Snow removal, depositing 200 150 250 Yes
(roadway, municipal property)
21(a)(il) | Snow removal, depositing / 300 250 350 No
visibility (fire hydrant)
22 Offensive odours 200 150 250 Yes
23 Compost site misuse 200 150 250 Yes
24 Drainage of surface water 200 150 250 Yes