Hot Topic (2/9): "Mow your lawn!" says the city

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Lynnwood council considers proper length for grass

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

LYNNWOOD, Wash. -- The Lynnwood City Council will consider ordinances Monday night to tidy up neighborhoods.

The Daily Herald of Everett reports the ordinances would regulate how tall grass could grow on lawns, whether semi-trucks can park on neighborhood streets, and if mother-in-law apartments can be built separate from homes.

The community development director, Paul Krauss, says the purpose of the grass ordinance is to go after homes where there has been little maintenance for years. Overgrown yards become breeding grounds for pests and could catch fire in the summer.

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What do you think about this proposed ordinance?

Does a city have the right to tell you what to do with your private property?

Any thoughts?  Are you for or against this ordinance?

[LauraKW]

If you live within the city limits, yes.  Some of the situations posed could probably have a grandfather clause, but the grass thing is fairly common.

[Mommy_of_Riley]

I know this is speaking of a city but this is one reason we are looking for a house that is NOT in a HOA...  I will mow my lawn when I want and I will plany the kind of trees I want and I will leave my kids toys out overnight IF I WANT!!! 

[Joqui]

my HOA was a pain in the butt about mowing our lawn. But in a way I was glad because I didn't want my neighbors having overgrown grass when mine was all nice and edged

[EireLass]

I'm lucky I live in a neighborhood where people all tend to their properties in a reasonable way. I think I'd be miffed if I had a manicured lawn (which I don't), and the neighbor had foot high weeds and unregistered pieces of junk cars laying around. I can see how that would create a problem. On the other hand, too bad people don't use common sense, so the town doesn't have to dictate.

[cagnew80]

I would never live in a HOA. Never. We live in the country. We mow our lawn. Our neighbors usually do to- but if they didn't, I wouldn't care even to impose some kind of dumb rule on them.

Seriously, life is too short to worry about how high my neighbors grass is!

[foxychick9003]

I live in a gated community and they have rules on everything, how long your grass can be, how many cars can be parked in your driveway...that nothing else is aloud in your driveway, and you get fined if you don't follow them

[katy_kay]

Sure they can, they pass laws that tell you that you have to have your dog leashed on your property or that you can't have trash piling up.  They pass public nuisance laws that establish 'quiet hours'.  This basically falls into the same category. 

It is really time Lynnwood take some steps to clean up their image. 

[grammie6]

What do you think about this proposed ordinance? We have this ordinance in my community, I agree with it.

Does a city have the right to tell you what to do with your private property? Yes

Any thoughts?  Are you for or against this ordinance? High grass is a haven for snakes, rats and mosquitoes. Not fair to the neighbors if it is allowed to grow too high, common sense.

[Friday]

We already have this type of ordinance in my town. If your lawn is dead or scraggly looking they will give you a warning and if it's not fixed by the due date it's a $500 fine. 

[rella8672]

We already have this ordinance in our city.You can go to jail if you refuse to cut your grass...