BRAMPTON, ON — The City of Brampton is introducing two new by-laws to support sustainable gardening and keep public spaces safe:
- Encroachment By-Law – Regulates objects or structures extending from private property onto City-owned land.
- Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-Law – Sets rules for yard and garden upkeep, while allowing natural garden styles.
Encroachment By-Law
The Encroachment By-Law helps maintain public safety and protect City infrastructure by regulating the use of City-owned land. An encroachment refers to any unauthorized object, structure or activity that extends from private property onto City land. While certain uses, such as soft landscaped gardens on boulevards, may be permitted, other encroachments can create health and safety risks including potential injuries or increased flooding. Examples of encroachments include:
- Extending a backyard beyond the property line into a park for storage
- Building a fence, planting trees or bushes, installing raised gardens, columns, gate access to driveway, raised curbs or permanent sports equipment on a boulevard in a front yard
Encroachments onto parkland and public open space are not permitted. Boulevard Gardens are permitted encroachments if they meet requirements outlined in the by-law and do not require an Encroachment Agreement with the City of Brampton.
Any encroachment installed or maintained without an agreement may be subject to penalties, fines and removal at the owner’s expense. Under this by-law, residents may be permitted to install gardens on applicable City-owned boulevards without an Encroachment Agreement, subject to specific conditions. Allowing soft landscaping on boulevards contributes to the beautification of Brampton’s streets while supporting sustainability efforts. These gardens can improve air quality, conserve water, provide habitats for beneficial insects and pollinators and enhance biodiversity.
Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-law
The Ground Cover Maintenance and Prohibited Plants By-Law promotes naturalized gardens by permitting a wider range of garden styles while protecting properties from invasive and noxious species through enforcement of a specific Prohibited Plants list, in alignment with provincial guidelines. Both initiatives support pollinator habitats and enhance biodiversity, advancing the City’s sustainability goals.
New Penalties for Encroachments and Overgrown Properties
To support continued enforcement of excessive growth violations, the City of Brampton is amending the Administrative Penalties (Non-Parking) By-Law 218-2019 to establish new graduated penalties for non-compliance. This includes escalating penalties for repeat violations to encourage timely property maintenance.
The penalty for first-time excessive growth offences remains unchanged at $250, as outlined in the Grass and Weed Cutting By-Law 116-2011. New penalty amounts for repeat violations are as follows:
Ground cover violations
- First offence: $250
- Second offence: $375
- Third and subsequent offences: $500
Encroachment violations
- First offence: $400
- Second offence: $700
- Third and subsequent offences: $1,000
These changes help keep Brampton clean, safe and environmentally friendly. For more details, visit
brampton.ca/growgreen.
