At the Regular Council Meeting held July 13, 2026, Council adopted the Village of Canal Flats Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 296, 2026.

This bylaw has been developed to ensure that all residents and property owners are aware of, and comply with, standards that support a clean, safe and welcoming community. It promotes an environment that is attractive to newcomers while ensuring that individuals can freely enjoy their own property without interfering with others’ ability to do the same. Additionally, the bylaw addresses a range of public safety concerns to help maintain the overall well-being of the community.

The new bylaw replaces the unsightly premise and noise control bylaws, and addresses property maintenance standards, noise, graffiti, littering/dumping, vacant premise security, snow removal, boulevard and lane maintenance and dangerous and fallen trees.

You can find the Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 296, 2026 on our website.

Why do we need a Good Neighbour Bylaw?

In the summer, residents are out in full force working on their properties: from lawn maintenance and gardening to demolition and construction of new structures. This activity helps to increase value throughout the village and builds on the ‘un-city experience’ for prospective residents.

On the flip side, when we don’t see this activity, we start to see properties in states of disrepair and neglect. This can become a safety issue for residents and passersby alike as well as be detrimental to the surrounding area. To help mitigate these problems, the Village implemented the bylaw.

What are Unsightly Premises?

Unsightly premises are any property – land, buildings, improvements, personal property, or a combination of them – that negatively affects the amenities, use, value, or enjoyment of the surrounding lands in reasonable proximity. The conditions could be untidy, offensive, or dangerous to the health and safety of any person.

The bylaw lists the prohibitions to help property owners know what conditions are expected on the premises. Property owners must not allow:

• excessive uncut grass or weeds on their property and/or the boulevard

• growth of trees or shrubs that interfere with or endanger visibility of street/road signage, sidewalks, roadway clearances or sightlines

• accumulated piles or otherwise of dirt, stone, garden waste, old implements, disassembled or broken vehicles, scrap iron, lumber, glass, furniture, appliances, food containers, wastepaper or cardboard

• structures to fall into a state of disrepair (e.g. stairs, porches, decks, roofs, fence)

If legitimate work is being carried out through a development permit approved by the Village, such as construction, demolition, renovation, storage, or other related activities on a property, unsightly premises would not apply until after the work has been completed for an extended period of time.

If it’s my property, why is there an unsightly premises bylaw?

As residents in the Village of Canal Flats, we all must work together to ensure our activities are respectful of our neighbours. While residents can decide on the methods to maintain their property, not maintaining the property can have larger effects on health, safety, and livelihood, such as:

• Potential accidents from visually obstructed roadways.

• Pets ingesting harmful waste that has blown in from another property.

• Reduced ability to sell property from decreasing market value.

• Decreased likelihood of buyers purchasing in the area due to the state of prospective properties.

Managing the space around your house and buildings reduces the risk of wildfire damage and one of the FireSmart principles.

How much noise is allowed on my property?

You are welcome to enjoy your property, but please keep noise at a level that does not interfere with your neighbours’ peace, quiet, or enjoyment.

The bylaw covers noise such as:

• Loud music or musical instruments.

• Dogs barking repeatedly.

• Construction noise.

Let’s be respectful and keep our Village clean!

By using Village services and keeping our neighbours in mind, Village properties will continue to grow in value thanks to their upkeep.

If you’re being affected by an unsightly premise within your property’s proximity, please pick up or print out a Bylaw Enforcement Form from our website. Completed forms can be brought in person, emailed to village@canalflats.ca mailed to PO Box 159, Canal Flats, BC or brought to the Village Office at 8866 Grainger Road