Grass and Weeds

Municipal Roadways

Our Public Works Department provides rural roadside mowing to improve visibility and prevent weeds and grass from encroaching on our roadways. If there are areas with restricted visibility causing traffic concerns, call 519-360-1998 or submit a service request online.

Weed and Long Grass By-Laws

Chatham-Kent uses both the Weed Control Act and Chatham-Kent's Long Grass and Weed Height By-Law to control long grass and weeds on private property. These measures serve to protect public health and maintain property standards, as well as the farming and horticultural industries by preventing the spread of noxious weeds.

The Long Grass and Weed Height By-Law is enforced from April 1 through to November 1.  All properties not subject to the Weed Control Act must cut the grass and weeds on their property when it exceeds 20 centimetres or 8 inches.

What is the Role of the Public Works Department?

• If a property is in violation, a notice of infraction under the Long Grass and Weed Height By-Law will be issued to the property owner, allowing 3 days to make the premises conform to the requirements.
  
• If the property is still in violation after the 3-day period, Public Works will arrange to have the property cut. All costs and an administration fee for each cut will be charged against the land in taxes as stated in the by-law.
  
• Only one notice per property, per year, is given. For further violations in the year, Public Works will proceed straight to a property cut.

Need to report a violation? Create a Service Request online anytime!

Request an appeal

You can appeal a by-law enforcement decision by completing the form on the back of your notice of infraction. A request for an appeal hearing must be submitted within 30 calendar days along with the appeal fee. Please submit the form to the Clerk's office by emailing ck311@chatham-kent.ca. You will be contacted by the clerk's office when your hearing date has been scheduled.

Public Notice of Pesticide Use

Notice is hereby given that the Municipality of Chatham-Kent intends to utilize Green Stream Lawn & Vegetation Management Inc. and Veg-Tek Agri Inc. for the purpose of controlling noxious weeds along all municipal rural roadsides.

This pesticide use falls under Public Works Exception of the Cosmetics Pesticides Ban for the promotion of public health or safety.

The following pesticides registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Canada) will be used:

• ClearView Herbicide (Reg. #29752) containing the active ingredients Metsulfuron-methyl and Aminopyralid, present as potassium salt
• Gateway Adjuvant (Reg.#31470) containing the active ingredients Paraffinic Oil, and Alkoxylated alcohol non-ionic surfactants
• Navius FLEX Herbicide (Reg. #30922) containing the active ingredients Metsulfuron–methyl and Aminocyclopyrachlor

The spring spray period is expected to take place between May 15 and June 15, 2023, and fall spray period is expected to take place between September 15 and October 15, 2023 for spot treatment. Application will be weather permitting and confined to weed-infested portions of the municipal right-of-way.

A map of the specific spray locations can be requested through the Chatham-Kent Public Works Department by emailing ckpw@chatham-kent.ca.

For further information, please contact:

Jordan Gray: Manager, Public Works South, Municipality of Chatham-Kent 

P: (519) 360-1998 or 1-800-714-7497 or ckpw@chatham-kent.ca

Steve Ford: Green Stream Lawn & Vegetation Management Inc.       

P: (905) 510-1229 or sford@green-stream.ca 

Trevor Caron: Veg-Tek Agri Inc.                                  

P: (519) 809-4812 or trevorc@vegtek.com 

Municipal Property & Public Parks

The Municipality contracts out urban grass-cutting services for our municipal parks and properties. If you notice a municipal park or property that requires attention due to weeds and long grass call 519-360-1998 or submit a service request online.

Maps & Pictures Program

This program provides an overview of municipal grass parcels maintained by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent.

Do you have a question or concern? Call 519-360-1998 or email ck311@chatham-kent.ca.