How some B.C. cities are coping with increasing complaints over unsightly properties
Burnaby recently changed its bylaws giving staff more power to expedite orders forcing cleanups
It could be garbage or recycling lying about, overgrown gardens or yard waste. The way a neighbour keeps their property in order is a delicate balance for cities in B.C., some of which are dealing with an increase in complaints.
Burnaby recently changed its unsightly premises bylaws to better define what is considered untidy or neglected on private property, enabling staff to take expedited action without council approval.
The changes include allowing the city's general manager of community safety to issue compliance orders and eliminating the need for council approval to hire contractors to do the job at the property owner's expense.
Dave Critchley, the general manager of community safety for Burnaby, says the city now gets more than one complaint about unsightly premises a day, a big increase from a few years ago.
"People are becoming more vocal about their neighbourhood and more prone to reach out to express their views."
Once a complaint is made, city staff investigate the problem. The majority are resolved by the property owner once they've been notified of the complaint if staff find it to be valid.
Critchley said seeking council approval for a small percentage of authorized cleanups — there were four cases in both 2022 and 2023 — can result in weeks or even months-long delays in resolving the problem.
"Council is very busy," he said. "We want to ensure that we have a plan of action and that we can implement that in a prompt and appropriate way."
Property owners served an order over an unsightly premises complaint can appeal them, which then are heard by council. It can confirm, amend, provide additional time to take corrective action or even rescind the order.
Burnaby residents CBC News spoke with said city administrators must weigh a property owner's right to use their property as they like against the best interests of the community.
In Richmond, where council still decides on clean-up issues directly, the city was projected to have 540 complaints in 2024.
One property in particular has had 18 reports of unsightly premises over the past 15 years.
The city says some progress has been made at the property owned by an older woman supported by her sons, but piles of cardboard and paper and other materials under tarps still need to be removed.
The property owners did not respond to an email from CBC News or answer their doorbell at the property on Severn Drive, but city documents show that they have appealed orders.
Coun. Carol Day says she wants her council involved in unsightly premise cases, but admits that process and appeals can result in lengthy back-and-forth before appropriate action is taken.
"When [property owners] appeal the order and they clean up two garbage bins and then they could say they've made an improvement. That's not good enough," she said.
"It's up to council to have the will and the drive to say, 'No, that's not good enough. It has to change.'"
Vancouver, however, has seen a decline in complaints related to its untidy premises bylaw despite still receiving nearly four per day.
There were 1,294 complaints in 2024, down from 1,682 in 2018.
City officials haven't been able to pinpoint exact reasons for the steady year-over-year reduction but say increased education and awareness of the bylaws and property owner responsibilities are part of it.
"While we may not know what exactly is leading to the decrease in complaints, we are pleased that property owners and residents seem to be taking greater care in maintaining their premises," said a spokesperson in an email to CBC News.