City-wide grass-cutting is underway!

Let’s work together to keep the community in tip-top shape

Warm weather has arrived, and so have longer grass and weeds! The City of Vaughan is doing its part to keep the community safe, clean and beautiful, and we’re encouraging you to do the same. Not only is maintaining your property the neighbourly thing to do, it’s also the law! 

Here’s everything you need to know about the City’s annual grass-cutting operations, and how you can play a role this season.

How we do our part

The City’s crews take care of grass in more than 200 parks and more than 800 hectares of parks and open spaces, such as boulevards and sports fields. To maintain the grass and keep the weeds at a minimum, grass in these areas is cut on a two-week rotation from April to October. 

Every single park is inspected by City staff after the grass is cut to ensure service levels are met. If an area happens to be missed or requires further maintenance, it’s addressed within 24 hours. 

If an area in your neighbourhood requires further maintenance, you can submit a request online through Service Vaughan at vaughan.ca/ServiceVaughan. To learn more about the City’s seasonal maintenance operations, visit vaughan.ca/seasonal.

How you can do your part

Here are some tips from our Parks, Forestry and Horticulture Operations team to help you maintain your grass and manage weeds on your property:

• Raise your lawn mower blades to seven or 10 centimetres (three or four inches) – taller grass will shade out weeds and prevent them from germinating.

• Overseed and topdress your lawn with compost – overseeding ensures weeds do not have room to take root, and compost adds nutrients and structure to the soil.

• Aerate your lawn in the spring – this will loosen soil to allow water and air penetration to keep roots healthy.

• Add white clover to seed mix – white clover is a low-growing, hardy plant that adds nitrogen to the soil and helps regulate plant growth.

• Fertilize your lawn in the spring and fall – healthy lawns are thicker and can shade out weeds.

• Water deeply, but only when needed. Refer to Vaughan’s outdoor water use restrictions and schedules for when to water.

  • Grass requires 2.5 centimetres (one inch) of water per week (during dry periods). For the best results, water in the early mornings or evenings.

  • Use sprinklers or soaker hoses that keep water low to the ground.

  • Long and slow soakings will lead to a more drought-resistant lawn.

• Consider alternative lawn covers, where possible – low groundcovers, such as periwinkle and thyme require less fertilizer and water.

Avoid a penalty

Unkempt lawns take away from the beauty of Vaughan, and overgrown grass and weeds can attract vermin and pests, as well as create hazards for pedestrians and motorists. The City’s Long Grass and Weeds By-law 125-2022 (PDF) requires property owners to cut grass, weeds and other ground cover on their property and adjacent boulevard whenever the growth exceeds 20 centimetres (approximately eight inches) in height.

If a property owner has grass or weeds that exceeds that height, the City may:

• give a written notice or order requiring the property owner to cut the overgrowth within 72 hours. 

• issue a monetary penalty between $250 to $100,000.

If the overgrowth has not been cut within 72 hours, the City may 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 will be added to their property taxes.

To help the City quickly address these violations, property owners are not able to appeal an order or the cost incurred for the City cutting their grass. 

To file a complaint about a property violating the Long Grass and Weeds By-law, call Service Vaughan at 905-832-2281 or send an email with your name and contact information, complaint details, including the municipal address of concern, the condition of the property and a photo (optional), to service@vaughan.ca. 

If you wish to follow up on a reported complaint, you can reach out to the investigating officer or email ByLaw.Licensing@vaughan.ca.

To learn more, visit the Property Standards and Yard Maintenance webpage.

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