Bylaws related to grass

According to our Community Standards Bylaw owners of private properties are required to keep the height of grasses and herbaceous plants under 15 cm (six inches).  

This rule is not meant to discourage xeriscaping (low water gardening practices) and does not affect cultivated gardens. Property owners are accountable for maintaining the area next to their property, including boulevards up to the middle of the alley and the street.

Bylaw Officers will respond to complaints and issue Remedial Orders to property owners who do not keep their grass and herbaceous plants below 15 cm on their property. If an order is not followed, the City will take corrective action, and the property owner will be responsible for any associated costs.

A $500 fine may also be issued in accordance with the Community Standards Bylaw for this type of violation.​​

Foxtail Barley

As a perennial grass, foxtail barley must be controlled on properties under the Community Standards Bylaw.

Mitigation prior to foxtail barley reaching 15 cm is crucial to prevent seeding and further spread. An amendment to the Community Standards Bylaw adds the requirement that nuisance property owners control foxtail barley over 8 cm, before it poses a hazard to local pets. More information on foxtail barley and pet safety can be found here.

Under the bylaw, a nuisance means land, or any portion thereof, that shows signs of a serious disregard for general maintenance and upkeep, that adversely affects the safety or health of surrounding residents, or land that is used in a manner which interferes with the use or enjoyment of surrounding properties. No owner or occupier of a Premises shall cause or permit a nuisance to exist on the Premises. 

The specified penalty is $500 and peace officers may issue a remedial order to direct the manner in which the plant is to be controlled, where necessary.

Related bylaws

This page is an overview of these regulations. For more detailed information, please refer to the Community Standards Bylaw. Original copies of the bylaw are available at the City Clerk's office.

Filing a complaint

If you know of a grass infraction and would like to report it, please call 311 (from within Calgary) or 403-268-CITY (2489) (from outside Calgary) or use the 311 app or: 

Submit a grass complaint


To help us respond faster, please be ready with the following information:

  • Your name and address
  • A primary and alternate phone number
  • The address and exact location of the property for which you wish to register a complaint
  • A brief and concise description of the complaint

This information will remain confidential. No anonymous complaints will be accepted - you must identify yourself with the 311 service representative.

When reporting on the 311 app, users are encouraged to add photos to assist the investigating officer.

Learn more about filing a bylaw complaint and the process.

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