Know when to mow
With summer comes the sound of chirping birds and crickets, but also that of lawn mowers and hammers hitting nails, prompting a reminder of local by-laws regulating lawn maintenance and noise limits, which, according to Clearview By-Law Enforcement and Canine Control Officer Phil Snape, serve a twofold purpose: ensuring both the aesthetic appeal of the community and respectful practice between neighbours.
Property owners are required to keep grass and other herbage (be it dead or living) from exceeding 30 centimetres in height, in turn preventing the harbouring of mosquitoes and weeds, which oftentimes spread to neighbouring properties.
There are also restrictions with regards to the noise made by property maintenance equipment, which are deemed likely to disturb if used within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling between 9 pm and 7 the next morning, except on Saturdays, when the restriction is extended to 9 am, and Sundays, when it is extended to noon.
Creemore resident Tim Talbot, who, as part of the Ontario Summer Company program, formerly operated local lawn care business Talbot Lawn Care, said that, though he appreciates the rights of residents to enjoy their property and understands that noisy equipment can hamper that enjoyment, by-laws are not the only things that restrict the use of lawn care equipment.
“Weather factors heavily,” said Talbot. “You can’t cut when it’s raining, or very much when it’s too hot. Businesses still need to survive, so you take advantage of conditions while you can.”
There are similar laws restricting the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of a building and the use of construction or earth moving equipment within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, with no noise to be made between 10 pm at night and 7 am on all days except for Sunday, when no noise is to be made between 9 at night and noon the next day.
Property owners must also ensure there exists no refuse or debris in unsafe condition on their property, unless it is held in an appropriate storage facility.
“It’s not fair to someone who keeps their yard pristine if their neighbour’s yard is in a state of disarray,” said Snape.
“We all want to live somewhere that is pleasant,” said Creemore Horticultural Society President Charlotte Vorstermans, adding that keeping Creemore aesthetically appealing is important for local businesses, as doing so helps to attract tourists.
Vorstermans also noted, however, that lawns are not generally environmentally friendly, requiring a great deal of water to maintain, as well as encouraging the use of potentially hazardous chemicals and fertilizers that eventually make their way into local water systems.
“I would much rather see vegetable gardens than lawns,” said Vorstermans.
There are by-laws regulating the watering of lawns, with even-numbered houses permitted to do so on even-numbered days and odd-numbered houses on odd-numbered days.
“If someone resists or neglects to bring the situation into compliance, then we would proceed with charges under the Provincial Offences Act,” said Snape of the Township’s attempts to enforce the by-laws, adding that the maximum penalty for infractions is $5000.
