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Close-up view of vibrant green grass swaying in the breeze outdoors.

Riverview proposes amendments to its tall grass bylaw

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Riverview residents could soon have more lawn mowing freedom, after council voted in favour of the first reading of a bylaw amendment to remove the town’s long-standing 20-centimetre grass height restriction.

Amendments to the tall grass bylaw would see enforcement shift away from a height limit and focus on concerns related to health, safety and visibility instead.

Town Clerk Mareika Dow explained that the change was proposed in response to legal concerns raised by court decisions that found similar bylaws in other municipalities could violate Charter-protected forms of expression when no clear health or safety risk exists.

“This removes that 20-centimetre length and instead focuses enforcement on safety concerns,” Dow told council during Monday night’s council meeting.

Under the proposed changes, enforcement would target situations where vegetation obstructs sightlines, sidewalks, traffic lanes or visibility. The bylaw would also address invasive species and any conditions considered health or safety risks by the appropriate authority.

Dow also explained that many municipalities were moving away from tall grass bylaws because in some court cases they were found to be unjustified because municipalities could not demonstrate a clear health or safety risk.

“It was found to be a breach of a form of protected expression,” Dow said.

Deputy Mayor Richard Blackstock questioned whether Riverview had ever faced a court challenge over its tall grass bylaw.

Staff said the town has not dealt with such a challenge, but Chief Administrative Officer Colin Smith said the municipality needs to consider the legal realities it could face.

“If we know we’re going to go to court and lose, why do you want to go to court and lose and spend all that money to fight a case that you don’t have a defensible position?” Smith said.

He added that updating the bylaw now places the municipality in a stronger legal position should enforcement issues arise in the future.

“So it’s basically down to, I mean, aesthetics and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So if one person’s jungle is another person’s beautiful garden, I guess,” Blackstock said.

The proposed amendment does not mean the town will stop addressing neglected or hazardous properties.

Staff emphasized that Riverview will continue to enforce several existing bylaws, including the Dangerous and Unsightly Bylaw, the Maintenance and Occupancy Bylaw and the Collection and Disposal of Waste Bylaw.

Those regulations can still be used to deal with garbage, debris, unsafe conditions and other property maintenance concerns.

“The old bylaw kind of pitted neighbour against neighbour,” Councillor David Woods stated, adding that complaints often centred on aesthetics rather than genuine safety issues.

If adopted, the changes would mark a significant shift in Riverview’s approach to lawn maintenance, moving away from a one-size-fits-all height limit and focusing enforcement on demonstrable health and safety concerns instead.

Second and third readings to approve the changes are scheduled for the council meeting in September.

These amendments are in line with the City of Dieppe’s 2024 update to its Tall Grass By-Law, which removed the 20 centimetre height restriction, allowing the municipality to act in situations where there is a safety concern.

Elspeth McLean-Wile

Municipality of Lunenburg completes mandatory zoning process

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The last municipality in Nova Scotia has adopted mandatory zoning requirements.

The Municipality of Lunenburg announced they’ll be submitting their proposal to the province for approval. They’ll be the final municipality across the province to do so.

The province made the process mandatory in 2018, with the intent of having municipalities implement clear zoning laws for all the land under their jurisdiction, and to help development and ensure consistent land use across the province.

The Municipality of Lunenburg began their process in 2020, according to Mayor Elspeth McLean-White.

In a press release from the municipality, she said the final documents represent extensive public participation and years of community input and planning.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate throughout this process,” said McLean-Wile. “We heard valuable feedback from residents, property owners, community organizations and stakeholders, and those conversations helped strengthen the final documents.” 

Residents attend an open house in LaHave, Nova Scotia – SUBMITTED: MUNICIPALITY OF LUNENBURG

The document submitted was the fourth iteration of the proposal, and incorporated feedback from workshops, open houses and consultations with members of the public, stakeholders and community organizations.

Some residents raised concerns during the public hearing process, and the council said they reviewed written and verbal submissions before ultimately moving forward with the latest iteration of the plan. 

“This was a tremendous undertaking,” said McLean-Wile. “Our planning team brought a deep understanding of our communities to this work, and their expertise and dedication were instrumental in creating a planning strategy that reflects local priorities.” 

The Municipal Planning Strategy and Municipal-Wide Land Use by-law will now be submitted to the province for review and approval. 

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Sussex updates fire bylaw to expand rescue services

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Sussex has updated its Fire Prevention By‑Law to formally recognize the specialized rescue services its fire department now provides.

The bylaw had not been updated since 2012 and was revised following a 2024 fire service review that recommended modernizing the town’s fire service framework.

Fire Chief Tony Reicker said the update officially establishes Swiftwater Rescue and Wilderness Rope Rescue as services the department is expected to maintain.

He said the change gives the department the authority to continue training members and investing in equipment for those skills.

“Ultimately, it opens the doors to suggesting that Sussex will be providing these services well into the future, and that we can adapt and adjust and invest accordingly to help maintain those levels of specialized skill,” Reicker said.

Reicker explained that the department is building a foundation of trained members before looking at any additional specialized services.

“Once we have a number of members trained in addition to where we’re at now, that may open doors to look at other specialized services and skill sets that may be required to serve our community well,” he said.

The bylaw also merges the former Sussex and Sussex Corner rules following municipal reform.

Reicker said the update reflects what the municipality now needs and helps ensure consistent safety standards across all wards and outlying roads.

Along with the service changes, the bylaw updates the town’s fireworks rules by prohibiting consumer fireworks and requiring applications for display fireworks.

It also aligns outdoor burning definitions with provincial guidance from the Department of Natural Resources and clarifies what materials residents can burn in fire pits and outdoor fireplaces.

Reicker said the changes are intended to improve public safety, reduce avoidable emergency calls and give residents clearer guidance on the services the fire department provides.

New Brunswick Flag_Alex Allan_Acadia Broadcasting

N.B. aims to strengthen enforcement of First Nations bylaws

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First Nations in New Brunswick may soon have a clearer path to enforcing their own bylaws under new proposed legislation.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Robert McKee said First Nations communities have been asking for a practical way to implement their laws.

“First Nations communities have been clear that there must be an efficient and practical way to implement their laws,” McKee said in a government release.

The legislation would amend the Provincial Offences Procedure Act and its General Regulation.

The provincial government said the changes would confirm that provincial procedures can apply to First Nations bylaws, if communities choose to use them.

First Nations develop their own bylaws to address local priorities, including public safety, land use, environmental protection and community well‑being.

Under the proposal, police officers and designated First Nations enforcement officers would be able to issue tickets or appearance notices for bylaw violations.

Individuals could pay the fine or contest the matter in court.

The government said fines collected through the system would be returned to First Nations communities.

The province said the legislation is designed to be flexible.

More serious bylaw infractions could still move through the courts by way of formal charges.

The proposed changes were developed with First Nations partners, including the Wolastoqey Nation, Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn Inc., and Elsipogtog First Nation, along with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.

Sitansisk (Saint Mary’s) First Nation Chief Allan Polchies said the amendments are an important step forward.

“These amendments are an important step forward in recognizing First Nations’ authority to pass their own laws,” Polchies said.

If passed, the amendments would take effect upon proclamation to allow time for training and implementation.

yarmouth town jpeg

Town of Yarmouth bans ‘public urinating and defecating’

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When nature calls, stay out of sight in the Town of Yarmouth.

Council updated its public places by-law to add a ban on urinating and defecating in a public place.

Mayor Pam Mood says it’s not because of any particular incidents.

“It’s not happening all the time, but we have gotten some reports. The RCMP have to have something to go by if they’re going to write tickets for these incidents. It was simply an add to the by-law, that’s all this was,” said Mayor Mood.

She says they did a scan of other jurisdictions.

“To see what other towns and cities in the province have in their books, they have this. We are just adding a few words to say that you can’t do this.”

The Mayor posted the information on social media.

Mood says she posted it in jest, because she can’t understand why they have to tell people this, but says apparently there are reasons.