Brandon Long Grass Rules Explained: The 20 cm Limit, Boulevards, Notices and Fines

In Brandon, grass and weeds can't grow taller than 20 cm (about 8 inches). The rule is the City's Community Standards By-law, No. 7282. It covers your yard and the boulevard next to it, front, back or side. If you get a violation notice, you usually have 24 hours to 15 days to fix it. Miss that, and the City can do the work and bill you.

What does the Brandon long grass bylaw say?

Schedule A of By-law 7282 sets the rule. A yard must be kept so grass and weeds stay at 20 centimetres or less. It also says the lawn must be "neatly groomed" and not look unkempt.

That second part matters. A lawn can be under 20 cm and still look messy. The by-law lists "unkempt grass or weeds" as a nuisance, right beside piles of junk and wrecked cars.

Here's who and what it covers:

• Everyone in the city: Schedule A says it covers all persons within the City of Brandon.
• Owners and occupiers: a notice can go to the owner, the person living there, or both. Renters count.
• Grass and weeds: the same 20 cm limit applies to both.
• Natural gardens: beds you planted on purpose for ground cover, looks or food are exempt. A regular mown lawn is not.

The current rules took effect on July 18, 2023. Brandon uses the same 20 cm limit as many Canadian cities. Our guide to long grass bylaws in Canada compares them.

Do you have to mow the boulevard in Brandon?

Yes. This is the part most people miss. Section 2.3.1 says you must look after any boulevard next to the property you own or live in. That means the back, front or side.

The by-law asks for two things on the boulevard:

1. Keep the grass cut to no more than 20 cm.
2. Remove piles of fallen leaves, litter and other debris.

So the strip between the sidewalk and the street is on you. So is the grass along a back lane. Corner lots have the most of it. Those long side boulevards are easy to skip, and they're right where neighbours walk.

What about boulevard trees?

Many boulevards have City trees. The City asks people to keep lawnmowers and string trimmers away from tree trunks. A trimmer line can strip the bark. Leave a small ring of grass around the trunk, or trim it by hand.

How tall is 20 cm in real life?

It's about 8 inches, or the length of a pencil. A lawn mowed every week won't get near it. A lawn left alone for a few weeks in June can, though.

June is when Brandon grass grows fastest. Environment Canada's normals for the Brandon airport put the average last spring frost on May 17. June is also the wettest month, at about 80.7 mm of rain. Rain plus warm days means fast growth.

Edges grow out first. Grass along fences, sheds and the back lane gets missed by the mower. Those strips can pass 20 cm while the middle looks fine.

Why can't one cut fix a tall lawn?

Iowa State University's extension service says never remove more than one third of the leaf at once. So grass at 20 cm should only come down to about 13 cm in one pass. Getting back to a normal height takes two or three cuts, a few days apart.

What happens if your grass is too long in Brandon?

The by-law lays out the steps. Here's how it works:

1. Bylaw Violation Notice. An officer can give the owner or occupier a written notice, called a BVN.
2. A deadline. The time to fix it usually runs from 24 hours to 15 calendar days. The officer picks it based on the situation. It's written on your notice.
3. The City does the work. Miss the deadline, and the City can cut it without more warning.
4. You pay. The owner or occupier pays the full cost. If it goes unpaid, it can be added to your property taxes.
5. A penalty too. Not fixing it by the date is an offence. A penalty can come on top of the cleanup bill.

A short deadline is possible. If you get a notice before a weekend at the lake, line up a cut right away.

How much is the fine for long grass in Brandon?

The City's Compliance By-law, No. 7198C, sets the ticket amounts. An "Untidy & Unsightly Premises" ticket covers boulevard grass, leaves and debris. It's 100 dollars if you pay within 15 days, or 200 dollars after 15 days.

Tickets are paid at City Hall, 410 9th Street, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City also runs online screening if you want to challenge a compliance ticket.

Can you appeal a violation notice?

Yes, but act fast. The by-law says an appeal must be in writing. It must come in before the deadline on your notice. The City won't extend that appeal window.

How do you report long grass in Brandon?

The City's by-law page says to phone the Brandon Police Service at 204-729-2345 with your information and concerns.

Before you call, try a friendly word. A neighbour may be sick, away or short a mower. A knock on the door often fixes it faster than a notice.

Got a notice yourself and not sure what it means? The City says to contact a By-Law Officer for clarification.

Where does Brandon's ground make mowing harder?

A federal soil survey of the Brandon area says the land is mostly level to very gently sloping. The real slopes sit in the Assiniboine River's cut channel. Yards that back onto slopes and banks are harder to mow evenly, and banks tend to get left for later.

Low areas bring their own trouble. The City's plan for Assiniboine Gardens calls it a low lying and flat area behind the dike. The plan says floods have hit it many times over the years, including 2011 and 2014. After a wet spring, soggy low spots can't take a mower for days, and grass keeps growing. A string trimmer can often handle a wet edge when a mower can't.

For more on soil, frost and neighbourhoods, see our Brandon lawn care page.

What should you do with the clippings and leaves?

The by-law wants the boulevard clear of fallen leaves, so fall counts too. Brandon gives you a few options:

• Green cart: if you signed up, it takes grass clippings, weeds and twigs under 3/4 inch. Pickup runs April 28 to November 6 in 2026.
• Eastview Landfill: the City says you can always bring organics there free of charge.
• Residential Diversion Depot: it opened at the landfill on August 29, 2026. Yard waste and tree waste go in free.

Not every home has a green cart. It's a sign-up program. If yours ends after November 6, the landfill depot is your option for late leaves. Our fall cleanup timing guide for the Prairies covers the last weeks of the season.

How do you stay under 20 cm all season?

• Mow on a set day each week from late May into September.
• Cut more often in June, when rain and warm days push growth.
• Mow the boulevard and the back lane strip every time, not just the front yard.
• Trim fence lines, shed corners and banks every visit.
• Book a backup cut before summer trips.
• Mow between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The same by-law bans motorized mowers in residential areas overnight.

Weeds count toward the 20 cm too. Our partner crews don't spray, and Golden Oak gives no advice on weed killers or other chemicals.

Good trimming and edging keeps fence lines and boulevard edges tidy, which is where complaints start. For towns nearby, visit our Manitoba lawn care page.

Can someone keep your Brandon lawn under the limit?

Yes. Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Brandon. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.

Your crew handles weekly lawn mowing, plus trimming and edging, boulevard included. You get the same crew every visit, and a photo after every cut. That photo helps if you're away or own a rental.

If your crew misses your scheduled window, that cut is free. Not happy? Text us a photo within 24 hours, and your crew re-cuts it free within 48 hours. You pay for the season up front and can pause by text. Book the Worry-Free Lawn Season and your first cut is free.

We measure your lawn from satellite images, so no one needs to visit. Your price depends on lawn size, how often you mow, slopes, gates and obstacles like play sets.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Brandon Long Grass Bylaw Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Community Standards By-law 7282, Compliance By-law 7198C, Brandon by-law enforcement, Boulevard tree protection, Brandon collection schedule, Brandon organics, Residential Diversion Depot, Soils of the City of Brandon Area, Assiniboine Gardens Secondary Plan, Brandon climate normals, Iowa State University Extension.