News Landscaping Municipal
Homeowner’s naturalized yard razed by city for non-compliance of municipal bylaw

A Burlington, Ont. family’s home lawn has been razed for non-compliance of a city bylaw that stipulates what can be grown and how high it is allowed.

The naturalized yard has been growing to milkweed since 2015 and has become home to pollinators and other wildlife, but the city claims noxious weeds and invasive plant species were growing there – all of which exceeded the 20-centimetre growth limit.

Neighbours complained to the city, saying the property was an eyesore and resembled an abandoned property.

The homeowner had been taken to court in 2019 over the matter, while last year the court said failure to remove the noxious weeds was a violation of city bylaws. The homeowner was told a daily fine of $10,000 could be levied if the vegetation wasn’t taken down and a $100,000 fine would be served if there was any interference to the city razing the yard.