Tree and Plant Complaints

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Learn how the City of Edmonton responds to landscaping, tree maintenance, weeds on private property and elm tree complaints.

The Community Standards Bylaw 14600 regulates trees on City boulevards, overhanging trees on sidewalks, noxious weeds, long grass and landscaping requirements. Bylaws help ensure that people act appropriately concerning our greenest assets. We are all responsible for keeping Edmonton clean and safe, and we encourage you to report any concerns you have.

Long Grass Complaints

The Community Standards Bylaw requires private properties to ensure that all grass and weeds do not exceed the height of 10cm.

Naturalization Criteria for Private Property

Reporting Your Concerns

If you have a concern about long grass you see in your neighbourhood:

Discuss the concern with the property owner
Record the address of the improper landscaping and a description of the problem if you can't resolve it directly with the property owner
Call 311 and provide your name, address, phone number and the details of your concern

Responding To Your Complaint

After you call 311, the City takes these steps to help with your issue:

A file is created specifying your concerns
A Municipal Enforcement Officer or Community Standards Peace Officer investigates your complaint within 4 business days
The officer may issue a warning notice with directions to remedy the problem within a specified time frame or issue a bylaw ticket with a fine ranging from $250 to $10,000
The officer may issue an order, which allows the City to fix the problem and bill the property owner for the cost
The City may contact you to appear as a witness, if the matter goes to court

Elm Tree Complaints

The Community Standards Bylaw regulates the removal, pruning, transportation, storage and sale of elm trees in the city to help ensure that the trees remain free of Dutch elm disease. This includes, but is not limited to, the following requirements:

Prune your privately-owned elm trees between October and March to remove dead, dying and diseased branches
- To prevent the spread of Dutch elm disease, it is illegal to prune elm trees from April 1 to September 30
All elm wood, mulch and chips must be disposed of immediately by burning them or bringing them to the Edmonton Waste Management Centre at 250 Aurum Road. When you arrive, tell the scale operator that you have elm wood so it can be handled appropriately. Disposal fees are waived for residents.
- Do not combine elm wood with food scraps or other collected waste
- Do not bring elm wood to an Eco Station
- Do not stack, pile or save elm wood

Dutch Elm Disease Indicators

Elm Tree Trimming

Reporting Elm Tree Concerns

If you have a concern about the removal, pruning, transportation, storage or sale of elm trees:

Discuss the concern with the property owner
Record the address of the violation and a description of the problem if you can't resolve it directly with the property owner
Call 311
Provide your name, address, phone number and the details of your concern in case your testimony is required in court

Responding To Elm Tree Complaints

After you call 311, the City takes these steps to help with your issue:

A file is created specifying your concerns
A Municipal Enforcement Officer investigates your complaint within 4 business days
The officer may issue a warning notice with directions to remedy the problem within a specified time frame or issue a bylaw ticket with a fine ranging from $250 to 10,000
The officer may issue an order, which allows the City to fix the problem and bill the property owner for the cost
The City may contact you to appear as a witness, if the matter goes to court

Landscaping Complaints

The Zoning Bylaw requires that residential property owners landscape any front or side yards that are visible from a public street. For new homes, this must be done within 18 months of occupancy.

Reporting Your Concerns

If you have a concern about landscaping you see in your neighbourhood:

Discuss the concern with the property owner
Record the address of the improper landscaping and a description of the problem if you can't resolve it directly with the property owner
Call 311 and provide your name, address, phone number and the details of your concern

Responding To Your Complaint

After you call 311, the City takes these steps to help with your issue:

A file is created specifying your concerns
A Development Planner opens an investigation
If a violation of the Zoning Bylaw is found, the Development Planner will have the owner remove the problem and landscape the yard properly

Overhanging Tree Complaints

The Community Standards Bylaw requires that you maintain the trees on your private property so that they do not overhang or block pedestrians and motorists using the sidewalks and roads.

The location of the property line should be confirmed prior to pruning or removing a tree, as the tree may be City-owned if a portion of the yard is within the Road Right-of-Way. Maintenance of City-owned trees must be coordinated by the City.

Most boulevard and open space trees are pruned every 5 years.

Tree Care Tips

Reporting Your Concerns

If you have a concern about trees overhanging sidewalks or roads:

Discuss your concern with the property owner
Record the address of the violation and a description of the problem if you can't resolve it directly with the property owner
Call 311
Provide your name, address, phone number and the details of your concern in case your testimony is required in court

Responding To Your Complaint

After you call 311, the City takes these steps to help with your issue:

A file is created specifying your concerns
A Municipal Enforcement Officer or Community Standards Peace Officer investigates your complaint within 4 business days
The officer may issue a warning notice with directions to remedy the problem within a specified time frame or issue a bylaw ticket with a fine ranging from $250 to $10,000
The officer may issue an order, which allows the City to fix the problem and bill the property owner for the cost
The City may contact you to appear as a witness, if the matter goes to court

Weed Complaints on Private Property

Municipal Enforcement Officers patrol the city for noxious and prohibited noxious weeds. If regulated weeds are found on your property, you will receive a Local Authority notice and/or an Inspector's notice to remove or control the weeds on your property.

Weed Control on Private Property

Weed Enforcement

Reporting Weed Concerns

If you have a concern about noxious and prohibited noxious weeds:

Educate yourself on noxious and prohibited noxious weeds using the Weed Identification Page
Call 311
Provide the agent with your name, address, phone number and a description of your concern

Responding To Weed Complaints

After you call 311, the City:

Creates a file specifying your concerns
Sends a Municipal Enforcement Officer to investigate within 4 business days
Delivers a warning notice to the property owner within 10 days containing directions for remedying the problem
Issues an order, which allows the City to fix the problem and bill the property owner for the cost if there is non-compliance

Contact Us

311 Contact Centre

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Phone	311
TTY	711
Link	Contact 311 Online