Explore July’s By-law of the Month

Learn everything you need to know about Vaughan’s Long Grass and Weeds By-law

By-laws are put in place to ensure a safe and orderly community for all who live, work and play in Vaughan. Each month, the City of Vaughan explores a different by-law and what it means for you. This month, let’s take a look at the Long Grass and Weeds By-law No. 125-2022 (PDF).

Here are the basics

Previously, two City by-laws addressed grass and weed maintenance: the Property Standards By-law No. 231-2011 (PDF) and the Dumping By-law No. 103-2020 (PDF). Both by-laws stated that grass and weeds must not exceed 20 centimetres (approximately eight inches) in height, and once they reach that height they must be cut or removed.

At a recent Council meeting, a new Long Grass and Weeds By-law No. 125-2022 (PDF) was approved. The by-law helps keep Vaughan’s communities clean, safe and looking its best. Not only can unkempt lawns take away from the beauty of the community, overgrown grass and weeds can attract vermin and pests as well as create barriers for pedestrians and motorists.

What has changed?

The Long Grass and Weeds By-law keeps the same maintenance requirements, but adds new provisions to enable City staff to address violations faster.

According to the by-law:

• property owners must cut the grass, weeds and other ground cover on their property and adjacent boulevard whenever the growth exceeds 20 centimetres (approximately eight inches) in height and remove the cuttings.
• property owners are not required to cut and/or remove the grass, weeds or other ground cover on the boulevard next to their property if this is done by the City.

Keep your grass and weeds trim – it’s the law

If a property owner has grass or weeds that exceed 20 centimetres (approximately eight inches) in height, the City may:

• give a written order requiring the property to be cut within 72 hours.
• issue a municipal administrative monetary penalty of $250.
• issue a fine of between $500 and $100,000.

If the property has not been cut within 72 hours, the City can mow the grass, ground cover and weeds at the owner’s expense. If the owner does not pay the costs upon being billed, the amount can be added to their property taxes.

To help the City quickly address these violations, property owners are not able to appeal an order to cut their grass, however, they can appeal any administrative fines.

To file a complaint about a property violating the Long Grass and Weeds By-law, call Access Vaughan at 905-832-2281. To learn more, visit the Property Standards and Yard Maintenance webpage.

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