Grass grows out of control near some streets in Mississauga: councillor

It doesn’t quite rise to the level of “get off my lawn” as far as scoldings go, but a Mississauga city councillor is telling people to cut the grass near their property or it’ll get done for them at their expense.

Ward 11 Coun. Brad Butt said at Wednesday morning’s city council meeting that a hot, rainy spring to date has led to “just everything exploding in growth.”

Weather conditions have caused the grass to grow out of control in many places near boulevards and adjacent to residents’ homes, he noted.

While those spots are City of Mississauga property, the nearby homeowner — “whether it’s their side yard or their front yard,” the councillor said — is responsible for upkeep that includes cutting the grass, much like they also must shovel snow from the sidewalk during winter.

“What are we doing about that?” Butt asked of city staff. “I know this year has been wild with the growing season; it’s been the perfect storm, so to speak, of rain and it was hotter much earlier this year than I think it’s normally been.

“It’s led to just everything exploding in growth — trees and grass, which is a nice thing to see, but if you’re not cutting that stuff back, it is causing quite a problem for neighbours … and when the grass is not getting cut, how are we taking action on that with the homeowner?”

Ward 11 Coun. Brad Butt wants to make sure the grass gets cut in Mississauga.

City staff told Butt and council the municipality’s property standards bylaw requires grass height be no greater than eight inches (20 centimetres) — whether on private property or city land.

Furthermore, staff noted, bylaw enforcement officers respond to public complaints as they’re received.

“So, when the complaint comes in, we have staff go out, inspect it and issue notices (where appropriate),” staff said.

In cases of non-compliance where city work crews must cut the grass, it’s charged to the homeowner’s property tax bill, staff added in response to a question from Butt.

“Good,” the councillor said.

Mississauga’s property standards bylaw requires all property owners to repair and maintain their property according to the the city’s regulations. That includes caring for city property adjacent to their own land.

From May to September, city crews cut the grass at and otherwise maintain Mississauga’s more than 500 parks and sports fields.