Currently, our municipality's yard maintenance by-law requires that any lawn on their land does not exceed 8 inches in length and specifies that an owner shall ensure that any vegetative growth does not become a public health or safety hazard or nuisance. While the intent to protect public safety is respectable, the definitions in the by-law pose a problem for enforcement, the by-law does not reflect the negative impact that enforcing conventional lawncare practices have on local ecosystems, and it penalizes individual property owners for taking action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

Per the by-law 105-24, a "nuisance" is defined as "any condition on a property that causes or is likely to cause unreasonable inconvenience, discomfort, harm, or interference to others, taking into account the nature, character, and reasonable expectations of the surrounding area. A
nuisance is determined based on whether the condition exceeds what a reasonable
person in similar circumstances would tolerate, as assessed by an Officer." The difficulty is that neither the person making the complaint, nor the officer evaluating it, is required to have any gardening knowledge whatsoever before evaluating whether a property owner's plant selection is appropriate. 

Promoting and enforcing cropped lawns contributes to increased water use to maintain the turf, often with the use of pesticides to keep an even weed-free appearance, and increased energy use either through electricity or gas to power the mowers, while simultaneously eliminating space that could be used to grow plants that would support pollinators through food and habitat, as well as other wildlife, or support homegrown food production. As an example, fireflies, whose populations are in decline due to habitat loss and light pollution, rest at the tops of long blades of grass at night, but the maximum height of most lawn mowers is 4 inches or less. Bees, a critical group of pollinator species, cannot be supported by a turf lawn at all. 

Naturalized gardens have the benefits of offering food, shelter, and moisture to wildlife while remaining drought-resistant, pesticide-free, and needing little maintenance. They support biodiversity and climate resilience, while providing pleasant urban spaces for humans to enjoy nature. As our municipality continues to participate in the Communities in Bloom competition and promote environmental action, this style of gardening should be recognized and endorsed, not penalized by outdated by-laws. Smith Falls, Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Mississauga, Belleville, and Ottawa have all updated their by-laws with these benefits in mind, sometimes after costly court cases. 

It is with this in mind I ask you to sign this petition to request North Grenville Municipal Council undertake a review of Yard Maintenance By-law (105-24) and hold all work orders in North Grenville that affect naturalized lawns and gardens until the review is complete.