Property owners in Sault Ste. Marie now have greater flexibility in how they maintain their yards following a recent city council amendment that replaces a blanket 20-centimetre height limit on all natural growth with targeted regulations focused strictly on lawn turfgrass. Under the updated Yard Maintenance Bylaw, the historical restriction that required every yard and vacant lot to remain free from grass exceeding 20 cm no longer applies universally to weeds and natural growth, provided the space does not create a public hazard.
New Turfgrass Rules Replace Blanket Height Limits
The revised municipal rules establish a specific legal definition for lawns while carving out exemptions for residents pursuing naturalized landscaping. According to Jenna Ricard, solicitor and litigator with the City of Sault Ste. Marie, the amended framework specifically targets cultivated lawn areas rather than native plants or wild vegetation.
“The amended by-law now regulates ‘turfgrass’, which is defined as perennial grasses used for lawns that form a dense, uniform turf when mown, which may consist of some weeds and natural growth,” said Ricard. She added that “every yard, including vacant lots, must continue to be kept free from turfgrass in excess of 20 cm.”
Consequently, the blanket 20-cm height requirement for weeds and other natural growth is retired. Property owners may cultivate naturalized yards without facing automatic infractions, provided the vegetation avoids triggering specific safety violations.
Did You Know?
In 2024, the City Council adopted changes to the Streets By-law allowing residents to establish flower and shrub gardens on city-owned boulevards, though those boulevard provisions remain treated separately from the Yard Maintenance Bylaw.
Legal Precedent and Safety Standards
The municipal shift brings local rules into direct alignment with recent judicial findings. The policy change keeps the bylaw aligned with a recent Superior Court of Justice case, Ruck v. City of Mississauga, 2026 ONSC 73, which addressed municipal yard and weed control frameworks.
Even with added landscaping flexibility, property owners must still adhere to strict municipal safety thresholds. A blanket height requirement to weeds and other natural growth no longer applies unless it constitutes an “unsafe condition,” which Ricard defined as a public health, public safety, or fire hazard. Additionally, dead, decaying, or damaged trees or branches remain strictly prohibited across all properties and vacant lots.
Expert Insight
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum allowable height for lawn turfgrass under the amended bylaw?
Property owners must ensure that all yards and vacant parcels do not allow turfgrass to surpass the 20 cm limit.
Do the height restrictions still apply to wild weeds and natural growth?
A blanket 20-cm height requirement to weeds and other natural growth no longer applies unless the growth constitutes an unsafe condition defined as a public health, public safety, or fire hazard.
How does the city define turfgrass?
Lawns are typically composed of perennial grasses that create a thick, even surface when cut regularly, and this category may also incorporate certain weeds and spontaneous vegetation.
How will these regulatory adjustments influence property maintenance trends across residential neighborhoods in the coming seasons?