Grass cutting - weed removal - encroachments - City boulevards - roadside - traffic islands

Transportation Services delivers grass cutting and weed removal services through 8 contracted vendors on grassed boulevards on the road network within the City's Right-of-Way, some orphan spaces, some green spaces, and specific sections of hydro transmission corridor trails. 

Other orphan spaces and green spaces are managed by Parks and Recreation, while certain sections of hydro transmission corridor trails are managed by Hydro One (see related information links below). However, Transportation Services does not provide grass cutting or weed removal services on private properties (including municipal boulevards adjoining private properties), TTC-owned properties, City parks, or any area that is outside of the City's Right-of Way.

Per Article V of Chapter 743 of the Toronto Municipal Code, all property owners in Toronto are required to maintain the municipal boulevard adjoining their properties. Property owners who do not maintain the boulevard are subject to a fine as well as any costs incurred by the City to perform the necessary work.

Grass Cutting and Weed Removal Service Guidelines

Grass cutting and weed removal only occurs between May and November of each year. Transportation Services' contracted vendors perform up to 7 scheduled grass cuts per year and follow a timeline where they will revisit the site roughly every 3 weeks. The actual amount of cuts required is dependent on weather conditions.

The contracted vendors are expected to provide grass cutting and weed removal services such that:

• All locations maintained by the contracted vendors are to be mowed to a cut height between 37mm (1.5 inches) and 50mm (2 inches)
• Each cut consist of debris and litter pick up, then mowing, and then followed by required hand trimming where necessary
• Weed removal would be conducted as determined by the contract administrator who patrols the sites
• Each cut is fully completed before the next cut starts.

Grass Cutting and Weed Removal Locations and Schedules

Transportation Services' contracted vendors perform grass cutting and weed removal at specific locations within each district. Each cut is scheduled roughly 3 weeks apart to account for varying weather conditions, such as rain days. These services follow a schedule that is updated annually, which is based on historical weather data and available budget.

Hydro transmission corridors are large swaths of land with the tall (80 ft) transmission lines. Most hydro transmission corridors are managed by Hydro One. However, the City does maintain a number of corridors. The contracted vendors deliver grass cutting and weed removal services along sections of the Finch Hydro Corridor Trail and the Gatineau Hydro Corridor Trail. Grass cutting weed removal along these sections follow a different schedule that is updated annually.  

Requests for new locations within the City's right-of way and additional cuts will not be taken at this time due to time, resource, and budget limitations.

Related information:

• Bylaw enforcement - boulevard grass cutting - not maintaining the boulevard in front of a house
• Bylaw enforcement - long grass and weeds - prohibited plants - private property
• Hydro One property - hydro corridor - maintenance - illegal dumping - grass cutting
• Grass cutting - Toronto Hydro property
• Grass cutting in City parks
• Maintenance of grass - weeds and plants in green spaces not in parks
• Provincial highway - MTO - Illegal dumping - long grass & weeds - graffiti - litter - property maintenance - signs