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Bylaw changes are coming in Owen Sound to allow lawns to run wild in early spring.
City council passed an amended motion during its meeting Monday to update the property standards and yard maintenance bylaws by increasing the maximum lawn height from four to six inches, and allowing unlimited growth until June 1 each year to help promote pollinator habitat.
Coun. Jon Farmer brought the issue before council, saying people in Owen Sound who want to take part in a growing international pollinator awareness campaign known as “No Mow May” can’t do so without risking enforcement action for violating city bylaws.
No Mow May is an effort by some private property owners to avoid mowing their lawns in the month of May to promote wildflower growth, which can help support bees and other pollinators when they emerge from hibernation.
The change passed by council will allow Owen Sound residents to do this now, as lawn standards won’t be enforced until June 1.
The slight change to maximum lawn length — from four to six inches — was amended from Farmer’s original motion. He sought to increase the standard to eight inches, in order to better align with nearby municipalities Meaford and Georgian Bluffs. Even larger urban cities such as Toronto, London and Guelph use eight inches as the maximum height for lawns.
“I don’t think there is anything about Owen Sound that sets us so drastically apart from those other communities when it comes to lawn height,” Farmer says. “And yet, we have standards that are more onerous for our residents.”
Deputy Mayor Scott Greig provided an anecdote to illustrate the silliness of the city’s current four-inch standard for lawns.
“After cutting my lawn … I have four inches. I am into compliance once I actually cut,” Greig says.
Some more discussion over a couple of inches unfolded among councillors, who eventually decided Farmer’s proposal was two inches too much. Coun. Melanie Middlebro’ proposed six inches instead, and councillors approved.
“I feel like it gives flexibility without really going too far,” Middlebro’ says.
Council directed staff to bring forward the formal bylaw updates for final approval at a future meeting. They decided against asking for a report with more information for consideration first.
Coun. Carol Merton was supportive of all the changes, but also mused about the benefit of getting more information to learn about potential health concerns related to longer grass such as allergies or ticks.
“I would just like for us to do our due diligence and at least consider, not just the bee health, but the people health,” Merton says.
