- A homeowner in Milwaukee received a letter from the City Department of Public Works stating that their yard violated a city ordinance due to the height of their native plants.
Many people are opting to say farewell to traditional lawns by ditching the grass and planting low-maintenance native plants. Sometimes, however, this can cause issues with compliance with city regulations, as one homeowner recently found out.
The native-plant enthusiast shared a photo to Reddit of a letter they received from the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works that claimed their yard violated a city ordinance (Sec. 80.17), which states that grass and weeds can not be more than 7 inches tall.
The OP asked for advice on how to respond to the letter and included a photo of their yard, which showed a range of native plants, including violets and goldenrods. Most of the plants appeared to be under the maximum height. The OP stated, “I’m a little worried because I got the letter today and I’m already out of time.”
Several commenters were outraged by this notice and urged the OP to contact the city to find out exactly what was wrong with their yard. It is easy to mistake native plants for weeds as the flowers can be similar, making it difficult for people unfamiliar with them to tell them apart. Working with officials and educating them on native plants can be a great way to engage people in understanding the benefits of traditional lawn alternatives…