Pollinator Friendly Municipal By-laws Value Proposition and Leading Practices, Professor Nina-Marie Lister, Director, Ecological Design Lab, Toronto Metropolitan University
Link to Recording
Summary Notes from Presentation
There are significant biases towards lawns and communication challenges related to front yard maintenance requirements in municipal by-laws.
There is an issue that grass is considered to be the norm in many by-laws whereas that is outdated and not reflective of municipal stormwater management, pollination and other community desired outcomes.
Some front yard gardens have received complaints from residents because they are perceived as too wild, messy, or weedy. This is problematic as there is a lot of subjectivity and a significant lack of scientific definitions in by-laws for terms like "wild" and "messy."
Legal Background
- There was a court case in 1996 that confirmed the right of residents to implement their values through their front yard gardens.
- Updating yard maintenance by-laws is also important for changing norms and supporting climate resilience on private property.
Problems with Existing Bylaws include
- Vague terminology in bylaws regarding grass, weeds, and undesirable plants.
Aesthetic judgments are not scientific and can't be defended in court. It is a leading practice to be as specific as possible re: what plants are not allowed and for what reason (ex. invasive species that should be clearly named and be able to be identified).
- This lack of definitions leads to problems with enforceability and compliance.
- Many people support the idea of growing biodiverse, pollinator friendly and climate-resilient gardens without permits.
- Updating by-laws highlights the need for bylaws to reflect these changing norms.
Solutions and Recommendations
- Remove references to turf grass and height restrictions from bylaws.
- Define prohibited plants, especially invasive species.
- Consult widely with communities, including indigenous members.
- Emphasize health and safety concerns related to traffic visibility.
- Filter out baseless complaints to prioritize legitimate health and safety issues.
Success Stories and Future Challenges
Additional Resources