Homeowners can be charged $167 for not cutting grass including backyards in Milton

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Published June 22, 2022 at 1:49 pm

Summer is officially here and while there are Milton residents who enjoy cutting their grass, the ones who tend to procrastinate could end up facing a hefty charge of around $167.

The Town’s Community Standards By-law, which regulates property maintenance and vegetation, is to blame for this consequence, which some Milton residents have gotten orders for.

According to the by-law, every owner of a property shall keep the vegetation in the yard “clean and cleared up” which means that in turf grass areas, the grass must be maintained below 20.32 centimetres.

Any vegetation other than trees or shrubbery must also be maintained below 20.32 centimetres along a minimum one-metre wide strip immediately adjacent to the lot lines and along all boundaries of the whole yard.

The by-law also states that shrubs, vines, hedges, bushes and vegetation other than weeds and turf grass are to be kept trimmed and shall not be “overgrown and/or unsightly” or in a way that may affect safety, visibility or be an obstruction to traffic.

But the grass on the front lawn isn’t the only thing that must be maintained to a specific height.

According to Mary Beth McMullen, Manager of Licensing & Enforcement for Milton, the regulation applies to all grass on the property, including the front and rear yards.

So, what happens when the Town is made aware of a residential property whose grass is not being maintained?

Well, the Town could send over a Municipal Officer to inspect and issue an “order.”

“Section 13 of the By-law allows an officer to enter onto a property at any reasonable time to conduct an inspection,” said McMullen.

“The investigating Municipal Law Enforcement Officer may issue an order should the property not be in compliance. Non-compliance may result in the Town conducting the appropriate remedial work and billing the property owner for all costs incurred.”

According to McMullen, officers respond reactively to complaints received from members of the public, which results in inspections as resources permit.

Should residents end up with a warning and choose to ignore it, they could end up facing a hefty charge for the appropriate remedial work conducted by the Town.

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