Grass and weed bylaw incidents in Canadian municipalities

Every Canadian city and town has their own version of a grass and weed bylaw, which is intended to uphold a standard of private property maintenance. Unfortunately, that standard is sometimes based on an outdated view of gardens and lawns; one that favors a neat and tidy appearance over habitat value.

The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, Canadian Wildlife Federation, David Suzuki Foundation, Ecological Design Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, and renowned author and environmental advocate Lorraine Johnson are working towards ecology-friendly bylaw reform that ensures the rights of gardeners to create and steward habitat on their properties.

To that end, we are asking gardeners to provide information on their own experiences with bylaws. We will only share your information with the partners listed above, not publicly. It will be used to guide our continued efforts towards bylaw reform.

Please note that this form is not a means to receive immediate assistance regarding your case. If you recently received a bylaw order from your municipality, we suggest that you contact the municipal office/staff person mentioned in the order to discuss how to comply with or contest it. You may also want to alert your councillor to your situation. In addition, we recommend that you peruse the extensive resources on the Ecological Design Lab website for general information on bylaws, habitat gardens, gardeners’ rights and more. Note that the information provided on this site is not intended to replace legal advice. You may also send a note regarding grass and weed bylaws and related notices to ecodesignlab@torontomu.ca.

Thank you.

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* 1. Have you received a notice from your municipality about your native plant/habitat garden not complying with the local grass and weed bylaw?

Yes

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* 2. In what year did you receive this notice?

2020 or earlier

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

I do not recall.

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* 3. In which city or town did you receive this notice?

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* 4. If you know the official name and number of the bylaw mentioned in the notice you received, please provide it.

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* 5. What specific offence(s) was mentioned in the notice?

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* 6. Please send a photo of your notice if you still have it.

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* 7. What was the outcome of this notice? Choose all that apply.

I responded to the notice, and it was rescinded.

I took legal action, and the outcome was favourable.

I took legal action, and the outcome was not favourable.

Legal action is ongoing.

I paid a fine.

I removed part or some of my garden.

The city/town removed all or part of my garden.

I do not recall.

Other (please specify)

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* 8. Which of the following describes your reason(s) for creating habitat on your property? Choose all that apply.

I want my garden to express my values.

I want to capture rain water on my property so there is less stormwater runoff.

I want to cool my property and neighbourhood.

I want to grow food I can eat.

I want to provide food and shelter for pollinators.

I want to provide food and shelter for birds.

I want to return native plants to the land where I live.

I want to reduce my water consumption.

I like the look of a habitat garden.

I want to reduce my garden work.

Other (please specify)

Grass and weed bylaw incidents in Canadian municipalities

Question Title

* 1. Have you received a notice from your municipality about your native plant/habitat garden not complying with the local grass and weed bylaw?

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* 2. In what year did you receive this notice?

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* 3. In which city or town did you receive this notice?

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* 4. If you know the official name and number of the bylaw mentioned in the notice you received, please provide it.

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* 5. What specific offence(s) was mentioned in the notice?

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* 6. Please send a photo of your notice if you still have it.

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* 7. What was the outcome of this notice? Choose all that apply.

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* 8. Which of the following describes your reason(s) for creating habitat on your property? Choose all that apply.

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* 9. What is your name? (You can provide your first name only if you would rather not be identified.)

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* 10. If you are open to connecting with a team member, please provide your email address.

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* 11. Use the space below to share any additional information about your bylaw experience.