With warmer weather arriving, property owners are reminded of their responsibilities under the Clean Yards By-law
Township of King, Ont. (May 27, 2025) — With the arrival of warmer weather, many residents in King Township will begin tidying up their properties. All property owners play an important role in maintaining clean and safe yards.
Property owner responsibilities
The Clean Yards By-law 2016-68 outlines the minimum standards for property upkeep, including rules around litter, waste and maintenance of grass and weeds. These standards help ensure that properties remain safe, clean and visually appealing in relation to neighbouring lots.
To keep your own property tidy, it’s important to regularly mow your lawn and trim weeds, dispose of waste and recycling properly using designated bins and pick up litter along your property line. Outdoor items such as garden tools, toys and furniture should be stored neatly to avoid clutter. Residents are encouraged to review the Clean Yards By-law to ensure compliance. More information is available at king.ca/CleanYards.
If you have concerns about the condition of a property in your area, you can file a complaint using the online form or by contacting By-law Enforcement Services at by-law@king.ca. Be sure to include the municipal address of the property, a brief description of the issue and your contact information. Alternatively, you can call 905-833-5321 to speak with a ServiceKING representative.
Yard waste collection
Yard waste collection in King Township runs from the week of April 7 to December 1. Residents should place yard waste at the curb in paper yard waste bags or open rigid containers clearly marked as yard waste before 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection day.
Accepted materials include leaves, small branches, trunks, stumps, weeds, brush and mulch. Grass clippings are not accepted and should be left on the lawn to decompose naturally—a practice known as grasscycling. Yard waste should not be placed at the curb before 5 p.m. the day prior to collection.
Grasscycling offers several benefits: it reduces landfill waste, retains moisture in the lawn, provides natural nutrients, saves money on fertilizers and eliminates the need to bag clippings. For more details, visit king.ca/yardwaste.
For missed pickups, contact GFL Environmental at 1-866-421-5625 or email WasteLine@gflenv.com.
Tree replacement and pruning
If you're planning tree work on your property or waiting for a replacement tree on a Township boulevard, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Boulevard tree replacements are underway, with new trees being planted where removals occurred, and this work is expected to be completed by early to mid-summer. Tree pruning and replacements due to winter die-off or ice storm damage are also ongoing, with King Township prioritizing areas most in need.
If you're removing a tree from your property that isn’t part of a woodlot or woodland, you don’t need a permit—though it’s recommended to keep healthy trees that don’t pose a safety risk. For trees in woodlots or woodlands, a permit from the Region of York is required; contact Access York at 1-877-464-9675 for more information. It’s also important to remember that residents are not permitted to remove or prune trees on Township-owned property. Additionally, if you're applying for a building permit for an addition or other structure, a tree report must be submitted for any trees being removed.
Green Yards program
Take a step towards greening your yard this spring and supporting pollinators by purchasing a wildflower kit, rain barrel or backyard composter. Residents and non-residents can purchase a native wildflower kit, rain barrel and/or backyard composters at an affordable cost.
Registration closes on Sunday, June 1. Residents who register can pick up their items at one of two locations: the Trisan Centre on Thursday, June 5 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., or the Zancor Centre on Friday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. If you’re unable to attend during these times, please contact the Township by emailing environmentalstewardship@king.ca or calling 905-833-6555 to arrange an alternative pickup.
For more information, including how to register, visit king.ca/GreenYards.
King Township’s grass maintenance program
King Township manages grass maintenance through a team of eight full-time and 12 contract staff. Wet weather can delay mowing, as cutting wet grass can damage turf and equipment. In such cases, staff will return once conditions improve. Grass clippings are left on the ground to act as natural fertilizer and no pesticides are used—dandelions and other weeds are managed through regular mowing. In addition to grass cutting, the Township maintains 28 parks, 70 km of trails, eight baseball diamonds, 24 soccer fields, 65,000 square feet of community gardens, 337 horticulture baskets and barrels, 14 heritage cemeteries and the municipal tree canopy.
During spring and summer, the Township aims to mow park and open space grass every five to seven days. Sports fields are cut every five days from April to May and every eight days from June to October. However, mowing may be delayed in wet conditions or reduced during dry periods when grass growth slows. The Township does not cut grass along regional roads (maintained by York Region) or beside private properties, where boulevard maintenance is the responsibility of the property owner.
Dandelions typically bloom in late May and early June, aligning with the first mowing cycle. While their seed heads may be considered unsightly, dandelions are beneficial—they provide food for pollinators, help fix nitrogen in the soil and improve soil quality through natural aeration.
For more information about spring maintenance in parks, visit king.ca/parks.
To receive updates on King Township news, follow the official corporate social media channels on X and Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to the King Bulletin enewsletter or visit king.ca.
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Media Contact
Township of King
Jason Ballantyne, Communications Officer
Township of King | Phone: 905-833-5321 | Email: media@king.ca