Every spring, landlords across Alberta and British Columbia start asking the same question:
“Who is supposed to take care of the lawn?”
You’d think this would be one of the simpler parts of owning a rental property. Grass grows. Somebody cuts it. Everyone moves on with their lives.
And yet, every year, we see the same situation unfold.
The lawn turns into a small wilderness preserve, neighbours start side-eyeing the property like it’s abandoned, and suddenly the city is mailing notices that sound far more aggressive than anyone expected.g
Lawn care disputes are one of the most common seasonal issues we see, and the biggest problem usually isn’t the grass itself. It’s assumptions.
Landlords assume tenants know they’re responsible. Tenants assume lawn care is included. Meanwhile, the municipality assumes the owner will deal with it immediately. As with most things in real estate, assumptions are expensive.
In many rental properties, yes. Both Alberta and BC tenancy laws require landlords to maintain a safe and habitable property. However, one of the biggest misconceptions landlords have is assuming lawn care laws work the same way across provinces. They do not.
In Alberta, lawn care and snow removal are largely contractual obligations. The Residential Tenancies Act does not automatically require tenants to mow lawns or shovel snow unless those responsibilities are clearly outlined in the lease agreement.
If expectations are vague, enforcement becomes much more difficult later. This is why clear lease wording matters.
At Hope Street, our lease agreements outline tenant responsibilities surrounding routine exterior maintenance, helping set expectations early and reduce misunderstandings during the tenancy.
This includes responsibilities related to:
• Routine lawn mowing and yard upkeep
• Snow removal
• Basic exterior cleanliness and maintenance
• General seasonal property care
The clearer the expectations upfront, the easier it becomes to prevent disputes, neighbour complaints, and avoidable maintenance issues later on.
BC approaches this a little differently. Tenancy regulations are more structured and often depend on who has access to the yard.
For multi-unit properties, landlords or strata are generally responsible for maintaining common outdoor areas. Single-family homes or properties where tenants have exclusive use of the yard, routine maintenance responsibilities often shift to the tenant.
This includes:
But major exterior maintenance, such as tree pruning? That still falls on the landlord.
Tenants can handle routine lawn care and snow removal, but landlords should avoid assigning any exterior work that involves ladders, roof access, or specialized equipment.
Tasks like gutter cleaning, major tree pruning, exterior window cleaning, and irrigation startup or winterization create significant liability and safety risks if a tenant is injured or the work is done improperly.
What seems like a simple cost-saving measure can quickly turn into an expensive insurance claim or repair bill.
A good rule of thumb: if the job requires a ladder or specialized equipment, it should remain the owner’s responsibility or be handled by a professional contractor.
This is where reality tends to hit.
Sometimes tenants simply neglect the yard. Other times, the situation is more complicated. A tenant may not own a lawn mower, may not physically be able to maintain the property, or may simply not understand local bylaws and property standards.
Meanwhile, the city does not usually care why the grass is overgrown.
In many municipalities throughout Alberta and BC, fines and bylaw notices are tied directly to the property owner. Even if the tenant caused the issue, the landlord may still be responsible if the fine goes unpaid.
I’ve had conversations with owners who were genuinely shocked to discover the city wasn’t going to chase down the tenant for reimbursement first.
Many landlords assume lawn care issues simply result in a warning letter or a small fine. In reality, municipal enforcement can escalate quickly when properties are considered untidy or unsafe.
A good example is Calgary’s Municipal Government Act Section 545 Orders, which can be issued when a property is deemed “untidy.”
This can include more than just long grass. Municipal complaints may involve the accumulation of:
For landlords, the important thing to understand is that these orders are tied to the property owner, not necessarily the tenant.
Once an order is issued, landlords are typically given a short window to resolve the issue. In Calgary, many orders include a 14-day remedy period to bring the property back into compliance.
If a landlord wishes to dispute the order, a written request for review usually must be submitted within that same 14-day window along with a $100 appeal fee.
If no action is taken, municipalities can escalate enforcement quickly.
If the property remains non-compliant, the consequences can become expensive.
Municipal crews may enter the property and complete the cleanup themselves. All associated cleanup costs, labour charges, and administrative fees can then be added directly to the property tax roll.
In serious cases, non-compliance under the Municipal Government Act can also result in fines of up to $10,000.
For many landlords, this becomes a harsh reminder that even when a tenant creates the problem, the legal and financial responsibility often still lands on the property owner.
An unmaintained yard isn’t just a cosmetic issue.
It affects:
And in competitive rental markets like Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver, presentation matters more than ever. Prospective tenants start forming opinions before they even walk through the front door.
If the exterior looks neglected, they immediately assume the interior maintenance probably isn’t much better.
Well-maintained properties tend to attract better tenants. Better tenants tend to maintain properties better.
Funny how that cycle works.
Potentially, yes. If the lease clearly states that lawn maintenance is the tenant’s responsibility, landlords may be able to recover costs related to lawn care services, cleanup, or municipal fines caused by neglect.
The challenge is documentation.
Landlords should keep records of:
Without documentation, disputes can quickly turn into stressful back-and-forth conversations.
After the snow melts, landlords across Canada discover what winter was hiding underneath.
Pet damage is one of the most common exterior disputes we deal with, and many landlords assume tenants automatically owe them a brand-new lawn replacement.
Not necessarily.
Both Alberta and BC distinguish between legitimate damage and normal wear and tear.
In BC, landlords can collect a pet damage deposit of up to half a month’s rent specifically for pet-related damage. Alberta allows reasonable deductions from security deposits when supported by proper inspections and documentation.
The key word there is reasonable. Ultimately, maintaining a pet-friendly property requires a balance between protecting the asset and recognizing that some exterior wear is part of allowing pets in a rental home.
This is one of the areas where professional property management can save landlords significant time and frustration.
Licensed property management companies help prevent lawn care problems before they escalate. Clear lease language, regular inspections, pet addendums, pet deposits, and proactive tenant communication make a major difference.
Sometimes the solution is as simple as helping coordinate lawn care services before the property reaches the point of complaints or fines. In other cases, property managers step in to manage difficult conversations, documentation, and follow-up with tenants.
For landlords who live out of province, own multiple properties, or simply do not want to spend their summer chasing lawn maintenance issues, having professional support can remove a surprising amount of stress.
The best lawn care disputes are the ones that never happen in the first place.
Clear expectations, regular communication, and proactive property oversight go a long way toward protecting both the property and the landlord-tenant relationship.
Sometimes tenants need accountability. Other times, they simply need support or guidance. The key is addressing issues early before they become expensive problems.
Managing maintenance issues, bylaw concerns, tenant communication, and property inspections takes time. Professional property management helps landlords protect their investment while reducing day-to-day stress.
Access the Hope Street InfoPack in your region to learn how professional property management helps landlords across Alberta and BC simplify rental ownership, reduce risk, and maintain their properties year-round.
No. Lawn care responsibilities should always be clearly written into the lease agreement.
Yes. In many municipalities, fines are issued against the property owner, even if the tenant caused the issue.
Landlords may need to coordinate alternative solutions such as professional lawn care services depending on the situation.
Potentially, yes, if the lease agreement clearly outlines tenant responsibilities and proper documentation exists.
Routine inspections help identify maintenance concerns early before they become larger issues involving neighbours, bylaws, or property damage.
Property managers and property administrators help with inspections, communication, documentation, contractor coordination, and resolving issues before they escalate.