North Bay Long Grass Rules Explained: The Clean Yards By-law in Plain Words

In North Bay, grass and weeds can't grow taller than 20 cm (8 inches). That rule is in the Clean Yards By-law, number 2022-28. It applies to all property in the city, and both owners and occupants are on the hook. Perennial gardens are exempt. If an officer finds tall grass, they can order it cut. If it isn't, the City can cut it and add the cost to your tax bill.

What is North Bay's long grass bylaw?

It's the Clean Yards By-law, 2022-28. Council passed it on March 22, 2022. It replaced the old by-law, 2011-185.

The key line is section 2.2.2. It says no owner or occupant shall have or permit grass or weeds over 20 centimetres (8 inches) on their property.

The City's Property Standards page says the same thing in short form. It lists "the cutting of tall grass and weeds that exceeds 8" in height" as one of its maintenance standards.

The by-law also defines its words. "Grass" means the short, narrow-leaf plants that grow on lawns. A "weed" is any wild, unwanted plant growing in with that grass. So the rule is about your lawn, not your flower beds.

Who has to follow the rule?

The by-law says it applies to all property in the city. That covers houses, rentals and vacant lots. Only land the City owns is left out.

It names both the owner and the occupant. "Owner" is wider than you might think. It includes:

• the registered owner of the property
• the person who manages it or collects the rent
• a tenant whose lease says they must keep up the property

So if you rent out a house near Lee Park or in Graniteville, read the lease. If it doesn't hand yard work to your tenant, a tall lawn is likely your problem. If you're the tenant and the lease says you mow, it's yours.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, a few. The by-law spells them out.

Perennial gardens

The 20 cm limit doesn't apply to perennial gardens. The by-law says that means an area planted on purpose with wild flowers, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses or a mix of them. A planned bed is fine. A lawn you just stopped mowing is not a garden.

Natural yards, with an officer's okay

Section 2.2.4 says a property with natural uncut grasses or other landscaping styles "may be permitted at the discretion of an Officer." That's not an automatic pass. If you want a no-mow yard, talk to the City first.

A small strip on vacant lots

Vacant lots may keep a planted buffer of 0.61 metres (about 2 feet) along the edge.

It's not only grass: what else does the by-law cover?

The by-law has a list of "undesirable material." Tall grass and weeds over 20 cm is one item. A few others matter for yard work too:

• hedges, bushes and ground cover that hang over the sidewalk or block a view for drivers
• dead or damaged trees and limbs that make the yard unsafe
• brush, litter and other debris
• standing water where mosquitoes can breed

Grass clippings, leaves and garden cuttings count as "domestic waste" too. The exception is when they go in a composter or a pile that meets the City's waste by-law. So don't leave a heap of bagged clippings by the shed all summer.

That hedge line is worth a look in North Bay. Overgrown cedars along a front walk are easy to miss. Regular hedge and shrub trimming keeps them back from the sidewalk.

How does the City find out about tall grass?

Most of the time, a neighbour reports it. The City's Property Standards page says that in most cases, a written complaint must reach Building Services before an investigation starts.

You can file a complaint with the City's online form, or by email to building@northbay.ca. The City asks for the name and phone number of the person complaining and of the owner.

Before you file, try a friendly word. Your neighbour might be away at camp, laid up or waiting on a mower repair. A chat over the fence often fixes it faster.

What happens after a complaint?

A Property Standards Officer looks into it. The City says that can include contacting the owner or tenant, checking the property and issuing verbal or written orders, with service fees.

1. An inspection. The by-law lets an officer enter the property at any reasonable time to check it. They can take photos.
2. An Order. The Order lists the address, the problem, the work to do and the date it must be done by.
3. The City does the work. If the Order isn't met in time, the City can cut the grass or have it cut. The owner pays the full bill from the contractor, plus the City's fees.
4. It goes on your taxes. If you don't pay within 30 days of the work, the City adds the cost to your property tax roll.

Ignoring an Order is also an offence. On conviction, a person faces a fine of up to 25,000 dollars for a first offence. It's up to 50,000 dollars for a later one. Those are the top limits in the by-law. The by-law doesn't list a set fine for a single tall lawn.

Why does North Bay grass get past 20 cm so fast?

The season is short, but it's busy. At the North Bay airport weather station, the average last spring frost is May 16. The average first fall frost is September 29. That's about 135 frost-free days.

Rain keeps things growing. The station averages about 90 to 100 mm of rain a month from May to August. September is the wettest month for rain, at about 115 mm.

That means a lawn can jump fast in June, and again with fall rain. Miss two weeks, and the spots along fences and ditches can top 20 cm first.

How do you keep your lawn under the limit?

The City has its own mowing tips on its water conservation page. They line up well with the by-law:

• Mow at 7.5 cm (3 inches). That's the height the City suggests. It leaves you lots of room under the 20 cm limit.
• Never cut more than one third of the blade. If the grass got tall, bring it down over a few cuts.
• Mow when the grass is dry. The City says that gives you an even cut.
• Sharpen the blades twice a season. Our post on sharp mower blades explains why.
• Leave the clippings. The City says they break down in a day or two.
• Trim the edges. Fence lines, posts and ditches grow tall first. Trimming and edging keeps them in line.

Our partner crews don't spray, and Golden Oak gives no advice on weed killers or other chemicals.

Where do the clippings go in North Bay?

Not in the garbage. The City's waste plan says grass clippings are kept out of curbside pickup. Crews won't pick up clippings set out as garbage.

You can bring grass, leaves and flower clippings to the Waste Diversion Facility at 112 Patton Street. The entrance is off Station Road. Residents drop them off for free, and they get turned into compost. The site is open Wednesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Yard waste runs April to October, weather permitting, so check before a late trip. Brush isn't taken there. It goes to the Merrick Landfill.

Can someone keep your North Bay lawn in line for you?

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

Your crew handles regular lawn mowing, plus trimming and edging. You get the same crew every visit and a photo after every cut. That's handy for a rental, or if you head to camp for a few weeks in July.

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 season and your first cut is free.

We measure your lawn from satellite images, so no one needs to visit. For frost dates and neighbourhood notes, see our North Bay lawn care page. Nearby, we also serve Sudbury and other Ontario cities. Rules in other cities differ, and our guide to long grass bylaws in Canada compares them.

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

North Bay Long Grass Bylaw Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Clean Yards By-law 2022-28, Property Standards, Water Conservation, Waste Diversion Strategy 2025, Waste Diversion, 2026 Collection Calendar, North Bay A climate normals.