Summerland鈥檚 Good Neighbour Bylaw was used to resolve complaints about a single-family home in the community.

The municipality had received numerous complaints about a single-family home on Victoria Road South, with neighbours complaining about garbage and unwanted materials on the yard and other issues originating at the site.

Graham Statt, chief administrative officer for Summerland, said staff from the municipality and the RCMP met with property owners to discuss their concerns about the property. 

Steps were also taken to contact the owners of the property about the ongoing complaints.

This occurred in late summer, and since that time, Statt said conditions have improved.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen good compliance on that property,鈥� he said, adding that bylaw officers and the RCMP are both reporting good progress on the condition of the site.

However, the process did not happen instantly. Because of the nature of the Good Neighbour Bylaw, there are opportunities for owners to take on voluntary compliance before the municipality steps in.

Statt said the complaints about the property have slowed to a trickle since the meeting with the property owners and the efforts taken through the Good Neighbour Bylaw.

He added that the Good Neighbour Bylaw has been used in other instances in Summerland to resolve ongoing concerns. However, if there is a simple dispute, Statt urges people to talk with their neighbours privately, before contacting the municipality.

Summerland鈥檚 Good Neighbour Bylaw addresses nuisances and unsightly properties in the community. Items under this bylaw include the accumulation of debris, weeds, waste and other materials. Noise regulations are also covered in this bylaw. Steps for enforcement are outlined in the document.

The bylaw was adopted in 2021.