City guide · Niagara Falls, ON
Niagara Falls Long Grass Rules Explained: Your Lawn, Your Boulevard and the 20 cm Limit
In Niagara Falls, grass and weeds can't grow past 20 cm (8 inches). That's section 8 of the City's Litter and Maintaining of Land By-law, 2007-41. Since December 2024, it also covers the boulevard strip in front of your home. If an officer finds long grass, you can get an order to cut it within 72 hours and a 250 dollar penalty.
What does the Niagara Falls long grass bylaw say?
The rule is By-law 2007-41. Council passed it in March 2007. It has been updated twice since then, both in 2024.
Today, section 8 has two parts:
- Your land: cut and remove all grass and weeds taller than 20 cm.
- Your boulevard: do the same on the boulevard next to your land.
The rule applies to owners, tenants and occupants. So a renter can get the order too, not just the landlord.
Council listed its reasons when it added weeds in July 2024. Tall grass and weeds can be a fire risk. They can block sight lines. They can also give mosquitoes and rodents a place to live.
The limit lines up with other Ontario cities. London also uses 20 cm, and Hamilton allows 21 cm. Our guide to long grass bylaws in Canada compares more cities.
Do weeds count?
Yes. An update in July 2024 made the rule about "grass and weeds." That means all kinds of grass. It also means the noxious and local weeds named under Ontario's Weed Control Act.
Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give advice on weed killers or other chemicals.
Do you have to mow the boulevard in Niagara Falls?
Yes. This is the newest part of the rule, and the one many people miss. Council added it on December 10, 2024.
The by-law calls the boulevard the part of the public road between the street and your property line. It includes grassy and planted areas. It also includes a strip that a sidewalk or fence cuts off from your yard.
So if there's grass between your sidewalk and the curb, that's yours to keep under 20 cm. The same goes for a strip on the far side of a fence.
Can you get out of mowing the boulevard?
Sometimes. An owner can ask for an exemption. The City Engineer decides. It can be granted when steep grades, walls or other conditions mean you can't care for the boulevard.
The by-law doesn't spell out how to apply. Call the City at 905-356-7521 and ask before the grass gets long.
What about the boulevard tree?
Mow around it, but leave it alone. The City's Tree By-law, 2004-173, says no one may prune, trim or damage a tree on public property. Keep mowers and trimmer lines off the bark.
Does the rule cover every property in Niagara Falls?
No. The by-law only applies inside the City's urban service boundary. That line is set in the City's Official Plan. If you live out in a rural part of the city, check with the City before you assume it applies.
Land where building work is going on under a building permit is also exempt. Once the work wraps up, the rule applies again.
What happens if your grass is too long?
It usually starts with a complaint. The City reviews each one with a by-law officer. From there, the by-law gives the City these tools:
- Inspection. An officer can come onto your land to check if the grass is over 20 cm.
- Order. The officer can order you to cut your land and boulevard to 20 cm or less within 72 hours. The order can come by registered mail or be posted on your property.
- Penalty notice. The City can issue a penalty for grass not kept under 20 cm.
- City cleanup. If you're in default, the City can come in and clear up the land.
- The bill. The City can recover that cost, plus an administration fee, the same way it collects property taxes.
Seventy-two hours is short. If you get an order on a Thursday, the grass needs cutting by Sunday. Rain or a trip doesn't stop the clock.
How much is the fine for long grass in Niagara Falls?
The City lists these amounts on its fines and penalties page:
| What happened | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grass not kept under 20 cm | 250 dollars |
| Failing to comply with an order | 500 dollars |
| Paying late | 25 dollars per month |
| Missing a screening you booked | 50 dollars |
So ignoring an order can cost more than the grass itself. If a case goes to court instead, the by-law allows a fine of up to 10,000 dollars on conviction.
Can you dispute a penalty notice?
Yes. Niagara Falls handles yard penalties through its penalty system, outside of court. Ask for a screening review within 15 days of getting the notice. You can use the City's online form. If you missed that window for a good reason, you have up to 30 days to ask for more time.
If the screening officer upholds the penalty, you have 15 days to pay. Unpaid fees move to your property taxes. You can also ask for a hearing with an independent Hearing Officer. That decision is final.
How do you report long grass in Niagara Falls?
Use the City's online form, call 905-356-7521, or email service@niagarafalls.ca. Give the address, dates and a short description.
You have to include your name, address and phone number. The City doesn't accept anonymous complaints.
How fast can a Niagara Falls lawn pass 20 cm?
Faster than most people think. At Welland, the closest weather station with frost records, the average last spring frost is May 9. Growth takes off after that. Skip two or three weeks in late May, and a lawn can blow past 8 inches.
Fall matters too. The average first fall frost at Welland is October 9, so lawns keep growing into October. A busy September can leave the back corners long.
Health Canada says grass cut at 6 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 inches) grows deeper roots and fills in thicker. That's a good everyday height. It keeps you far below the limit.
Why can't you fix a long lawn in one cut?
Iowa State University's extension service says never remove more than one third of the grass blade at once. A lawn at 20 cm can only come down to about 13 cm in one pass. It takes two or three cuts, a few days apart, to bring it back. With a 72-hour order, you can't wait that long. Staying ahead is the easy route.
How do you stay under 20 cm?
- Mow on a set day each week from May into October.
- Mow the boulevard strip every time you mow the lawn.
- Trim along fences, posts, the curb and the sidewalk edge.
- Watch the strip behind a back fence if it borders a road.
- Leave clippings on the lawn. The Region has banned them from the curb since 2011.
- Put trimmings out with your weekly yard waste, which runs all year.
- Line up a backup before summer trips.
Edges and boulevards are where complaints start. The middle of a lawn can look fine while the fence line and curb strip run long. Good trimming and edging keeps the parts people see from the street tidy.
Our Niagara Falls lawn care page covers local soil, watering and yard waste. For the rest of the province, see our Ontario lawn care page. Next door, our St. Catharines leaf collection guide covers fall pickup.
Can someone keep your lawn and boulevard under the limit?
Yes. Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Niagara Falls. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee.
Your crew handles weekly lawn mowing, plus trimming and edging. Just tell them to include the boulevard. You keep the same crew every visit, and they text you a photo after every cut. That photo helps if you own a rental you can't drive past.
If your crew misses your scheduled window, that cut is free. Not happy with a cut? 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 for trips. Book the season and your first cut is free.
We measure your lawn from satellite images, so nobody needs to visit. Your price comes by text in 60 minutes. It depends on lawn size, how often you mow, slopes, gates and obstacles like gardens and play sets.
Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.
Niagara Falls Long Grass Bylaw Questions
How long can grass be in Niagara Falls, Ontario?
Grass and weeds can't grow past 20 cm, about 8 inches. That's section 8 of By-law 2007-41. It covers your land and the boulevard next to it.
What's the fine for long grass in Niagara Falls?
The penalty for grass over 20 cm is 250 dollars. Failing to follow an order is 500 dollars. Late payment adds 25 dollars a month.
Do I have to cut the grass between the sidewalk and the road?
Yes. Since December 2024, the by-law covers the boulevard next to your land. You can ask the City for an exemption if steep slopes or walls mean you can't care for it.
How long do I have to cut it after an order?
An order gives you 72 hours. The order can be mailed or posted on your property. If it isn't done, the City can clear the land and bill you.
Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Niagara Falls By-law 2007-41, as amended, Enforcement and By-law Services, Fines and Penalties, Fines and Penalties Appeals, Tree By-law 2004-173, Niagara Region yard waste, Welland climate normals, Health Canada, Iowa State University Extension.
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