Yes — the clean-up is legally on you
It surprises many owners: when your property gets tagged, most municipalities we serve — in BC and Manitoba alike — make you responsible for removing it. Graffiti bylaws exist because visible tagging spreads — so cities require owners and occupiers to keep exterior surfaces graffiti-free, and back it up with notices, deadlines, fines, or remediation billed to your property taxes.
How graffiti bylaws typically work
- The obligation is standing — most bylaws require owners to keep property free of graffiti at all times, not just after a complaint
- Notices come with deadlines — if bylaw enforcement issues a notice or order, you typically have a set number of days (often around 10–14, varying by municipality) to remove the graffiti
- Non-compliance gets expensive — fines can apply, and some cities will remove the graffiti themselves and bill you the cost
- Hate graffiti is treated urgently — offensive material is usually flagged for immediate removal
Municipalities with graffiti provisions
Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster, Coquitlam, the North Shore municipalities, Victoria and many others maintain graffiti or property-maintenance bylaws with removal requirements. Exact rules and timelines vary — check your municipality's current bylaw, or just send us your notice and we'll work to your deadline.
Got a notice? Here's the play
- Don't wait out the deadline — enforcement escalates, and the tag attracts more tagging meanwhile
- Send us a photo of the notice + the graffiti — we'll quote it same day and schedule within your compliance window
- Get documented proof — every job ends with before/after photos, ideal for responding to bylaw officers
- Break the cycle — a coating or patrol program keeps you permanently compliant, no more notices
This page is general information, not legal advice — always confirm requirements with your municipality's current bylaw.