A proposed bylaw that would ban gas-powered lawn mowers and yard equipment after 6 PM has sparked heated debate among London, Ontario residents, with many calling the idea completely unrealistic for working families.
The proposal, which would move the current 10 PM noise limit to 6 PM specifically for gas-powered equipment, has been met with significant pushback from locals who say the timing makes it nearly impossible for people with regular jobs to maintain their lawns.
According to discussions on the London Ontario subreddit, the proposal has already been scrapped due to massive public backlash, but not before generating hundreds of comments from frustrated residents.
“Let’s have people cut their grass at noon when the risk for heat stroke and sunburns is at its highest,” wrote one Reddit user, highlighting a major concern about forcing people to do yard work during the hottest parts of the day.
The proposed curfew would specifically target gas-powered equipment, while electric and battery-powered tools would still be permitted until the current 10 PM limit. However, many residents pointed out the financial burden this creates.
“The city can BUY me a brand new electric mower because I’m not buying a new mower when I have a perfectly good one in my garage,” one commenter wrote, echoing the frustration of many homeowners dealing with rising costs of living.
Shift workers and people with non-traditional schedules expressed particular concern about the proposal. Many residents noted that they don’t get home from work until after 6 PM, leaving only weekends for lawn maintenance – a schedule that becomes complicated during rainy stretches or busy periods.
“I leave at 5:30 and don’t even get home till 7,” wrote one commenter, representing a common situation for London workers dealing with traffic and longer commutes.
The proposal also drew criticism for seemingly misplaced priorities. Multiple residents questioned why city council was focusing on lawn mower noise when London faces more pressing issues like homelessness, infrastructure problems, and housing affordability.
“We have a homeless crisis and a downtown vacancy issue and THIS is what city hall is concerned with?” one person wrote.
Some residents pointed out the practical enforcement challenges such a bylaw would create. With bylaw offices typically closing at 4 PM and police having more pressing matters to attend to, many questioned how the rule would actually be monitored or enforced.
The timing also presents challenges for people trying to avoid disturbing neighbours. Several commenters mentioned that evening mowing allows them to finish yard work after the heat subsides and before children’s bedtimes, typically around 7-8 PM.
Electric mower owners noted that while their equipment is quieter, it’s not silent, and the proposal wouldn’t address noise concerns entirely. Some residents with electric equipment reported needing multiple batteries to complete their lawns and experiencing performance issues with thick or wet grass.
The backlash wasn’t limited to practical concerns. Many residents viewed the proposal as government overreach and an attempt to force environmental choices through regulation rather than incentives.
“Another bylaw that will have zero enforcement and won’t actually force anyone to change their existing behaviours,” one commenter observed.
The discussion revealed the divide between different types of residents and work schedules. While some supported earlier quiet hours, particularly on weekends, the 6 PM cutoff was widely seen as too restrictive for a city where many people work standard business hours.
The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions in London about balancing environmental goals with practical realities for working families, particularly during a time when many households are already stretched financially.