Peterborough Long Grass Rules Explained: The 20 cm Limit, the 7-Day Order and Complaints

In Peterborough, grass and weeds can't grow taller than 20 cm (about 8 inches) on any lawn area. The rule is the City's Property Maintenance By-law, 96-41. If someone complains, an officer can give you 7 days in writing to cut it. Miss that, and the City can hire the work out and add the cost to your property taxes.

What does the Peterborough long grass bylaw say?

The rule is short. Council passed By-law 96-41 on March 25, 1996, and it fits on two pages. Section 3 says no owner shall permit grass or weeds over 20 centimetres in height on any lawn area.

The same section bans piles of waste material, like old appliances or car parts. It also says a properly managed compost heap is fine.

A few details are easy to miss:

• Renters count: "owner" means the registered owner or the person in possession. So a tenant can be on the hook too.
• Grass and weeds: the 20 cm limit is the same for both.
• Any lawn area: front yard, back yard and side yard. There's no exception for the back.
• City land is out: the by-law doesn't cover property owned by the City.

20 cm is a common number in Ontario. Oshawa and London use it too. Our guide to long grass bylaws in Canada compares more cities.

How tall is 20 cm in real life?

It's about the length of a pencil, or 8 inches. Most lawns mowed every week never get close. A lawn left alone for three or four weeks in June can pass it, though.

Edges and corners go first. Grass along a fence, around a shed or beside the driveway gets missed by the mower. Those strips can hit 20 cm while the middle looks fine. Officers look at the lawn area, so a long strip still counts.

What happens if your grass is too long in Peterborough?

Peterborough works on complaints. Section 2 says the City investigates "upon written complaint." So a neighbour usually starts the process, not a patrol.

Here's what the by-law allows, step by step:

1. Inspection. An officer can enter and inspect the property at reasonable times.
2. Written direction. The officer can tell you in writing to fix it within 7 days.
3. City does the work. If you don't comply, the officer can arrange for the cutting.
4. Cost on your taxes. The City Clerk adds the cost to the tax roll. It's collected like property taxes.

Is there a fine for long grass in Peterborough?

There can be. Section 7 says breaking the by-law is an offence. A conviction brings a fine "as prescribed by applicable law," under Ontario's Provincial Offences Act. The by-law itself doesn't list a dollar amount, so we won't guess one.

In practice, the by-law's main tool is the written direction. Cut it within the 7 days and the City has nothing left to do.

Seven days goes fast. If you get a notice before a week at the cottage, line up a cut that week.

How do you report long grass in Peterborough?

The City's Municipal Law Enforcement and Security team handles it. Their FAQ says they look into complaints about messy yards, long grass and garbage under this by-law.

You have two ways to file:

• Online: use the Property Standards Complaint request on the City's Customer Service Portal.
• On paper: fill out the complaint form and mail it, or bring it to Service Peterborough at City Hall, 500 George St. N.

The complaint needs the address, a description of the problem, and your full name and contact details. The City won't investigate anonymous complaints. Your details are kept confidential under Ontario privacy law. They may come out only if a case goes to court.

How long does the City take?

Investigations usually start within 3 to 5 business days. The City doesn't send status updates. Most of the time, you'll just see the lawn get cut. The officer may send notices and come back to re-inspect, so it can take a while.

For questions, the City lists the MLES line as (705) 707-3969. Still, try a friendly word first. A neighbour may be in hospital, away or short a mower. A knock on the door often works faster than a form.

When does Peterborough grass grow fastest?

From late May through June. Environment Canada's normals for Peterborough Airport put the average last spring frost on May 14. The first fall frost comes around September 24. That's about 132 frost-free days.

The City also limits watering from June 1 to August 31. Even-numbered addresses water on even days, odd on odd, between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The City says most lawns need only 2 to 3 cm (1 inch) of water a week. A lawn that gets regular rain and sprinklers in June grows quickly. That's when a missed week or two adds up.

Why can't one cut fix a long lawn?

Iowa State University's extension service says never remove more than one third of the leaf at once. Grass at 20 cm can 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. That's why it pays to stay ahead in spring.

Does Peterborough's ground make mowing harder?

Often, yes. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's soil survey says the city sits at the centre of a drumlin field. The plain around it holds about 3,000 drumlins, which are long, rounded glacial hills.

That shows up in a lot of yards as slopes and bumps. Mowers skip the high spots and miss the dips. Steep banks get left for "later," and later turns into 20 cm. A string trimmer often does the banks better than a mower.

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

What should you do with all the clippings?

Peterborough makes this easy. Yard waste goes out weekly from the first full week in April until the end of November. Grass clippings are accepted.

• Use labelled reusable bins, bushel baskets or brown paper yard waste bags. No plastic bags.
• Rigid bins can hold up to 80 litres. Keep each one under 13 kg (30 lb).
• Set it out after 6 p.m. the night before, or by 7 a.m.
• Don't dump clippings by a fence or in a laneway. The City's FAQ says yard waste shouldn't go near fences, alleyways or public areas.
• Got a big load? The City/County Landfill at 1260 Bensfort Rd. takes yard waste all year.

One fall tip from the City: in late October and November, wet yard waste can freeze to the sides of bins. Paper bags avoid that. Our fall leaf cleanup guide for Ontario has more on the last few weeks.

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 growth is fastest.
• Trim fence lines, shed corners and banks every visit.
• Book a backup before summer trips to the cottage.
• If you rent out a house, put mowing in the lease, or book it yourself.

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.

Edges are where complaints start. Good trimming and edging keeps the strips along fences and walks tidy. For towns nearby, visit our Ontario lawn care page or the Oshawa long grass guide.

Can someone keep your Peterborough lawn under the limit?

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

Your crew handles weekly lawn mowing, plus trimming and edging. 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.

Peterborough Long Grass Bylaw Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Property Maintenance By-law 96-41, Municipal Law Enforcement, Peterborough yard waste, Water conservation, Peterborough climate normals, Soils of Peterborough County, Ontario pesticides, Iowa State University Extension.