Farmers Branch requires residents to keep yards edged

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Farmers Branch requires residents to keep yards edged
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, August 16, 2008

By STEPHANIE SANDOVAL / The Dallas Morning News
ssandoval@dallasnews.com

It's not enough for Farmers Branch residents to keep their grass mowed. Now they're required to keep their yards edged, too.

[photo]
JIM MAHONEY/DMN
Farmers Branch's new ordinance requiring residents to edge their lawns
is for safety reasons as well as aesthetics, said City Council member Harold Froehlich.

And Carrollton is considering a similar ordinance.

It's for safety, as well as aesthetics, Farmers Branch City Council member Harold Froehlich said. When he proposed the change this month, he presented pictures of areas where grass had grown over the sidewalks or curbs.

"The extremes are pretty hideous. The grass grows from both sides of the sidewalk," he said, leaving a narrow strip of concrete visible. "That's kind of an encumbrance to an old-timer that has a walker or one of those three- or four-legged canes."

The new restriction is the latest in a string adopted since 2006 by Farmers Branch, which has some of the area's toughest property rules.

Others limit the number of vehicles at a house to five, outlaw empty flower pots, bar the use of aluminum foil and newspapers to cover windows, prohibit dirt and mold on home exteriors, and limit grass height to eight inches – four less than many cities allow.

Mr. Froehlich said residents brought the edging issue to his attention during the campaign leading up to his May election.

The ordinance adopted Tuesday requires that grass, weeds, ivy and other decorative groundcovers be mowed, edged or trimmed to keep them from encroaching onto sidewalks, driveways, curbs or street pavement.

"If there's a blade of grass lying over, we won't say anything," Chief Building Official Jim Olk said. But if it's matted over the sidewalk, he said, that's a problem.

Carrollton Environmental Services Director Scott Hudson said edging requirements are on a list of possible code revisions that could go to the council in his city for approval later this year.

"We think it contributes to the appearance of the city," he said.

Lewisville has a similar ordinance restricting vegetative growth over sidewalks.

"It's more of a judgment call on code officers," said Jackie Davis, the city's chief code enforcement officer. "If it's a trip hazard or anything like that, it will need to be trimmed."

Garland doesn't specifically require trimming and edging, but the city does prohibit any object – manmade or natural – from encroaching into or over an alley, street, sidewalk or other public right of way.

"If we get a complaint from a citizen about the sidewalk, where grass has pretty much covered a third of the sidewalk, then we'll go out and address it that way," Neighborhood Services Manager Rick Barker said. "But we're not really looking for those type situations."

In Farmers Branch, residents who have no edger or trimmer can call 972-919-2549 to borrow one from the city.