06/04/2026
Let’s talk about grass. The City recently made a few changes to the grass ordinance that have spurred a number of questions and comments online.
Let’s walk through some of them:
Changing the maximum height of turf grass allowed from 6” to 8”: The big driver here was staff capacity. Our code enforcement team covers a lot of ground (pun intended) and have struggled to keep up with the workload. We looked at a number of surrounding cities, and most were also 8”, so the City Council felt this was an innocuous change to make.
Complaint-based vs. Active Enforcement: For decades, Oakdale’s code enforcement approach has been responding to complaints submitted. Simply put, we don’t have staff available to drive around looking for code infractions. We also get asked “well, why can’t cops keep an eye out and report infractions while they are driving around the city?” I think we would all agree that officers have enough on their plates keeping us safe everyday. Absent a large property tax increase to hire new staff and purchase vehicles and equipment for active enforcement, we rely on the complaint-based system.
The complaint-based system is inconvenient for residents: We understand, and that is why we have broadened the options for residents to help with code enforcement. SeeClickFix is a helpful tool that allows residents to use their smartphone to snap a picture, have the location geo-tagged, and have the ticket routed directly to the appropriate staff/department. In addition to SeeClickFix, residents are always welcome to call City Hall or email any of us City Council members or city staff, and we will get it to the right staff member to respond to.
Isn’t writing a ticket over grass a little excessive? Fair question. The city code provides a range of tools to address issues within the community when communication fails. You will never see city code enforcement writing a ticket because your lawn is 8.01” tall. When a complaint comes in, city staff work very hard to talk to the property owner and try to get the issue resolved. Citations and legal action are the last resort. The rules are in place in the event a property owner just refuses to address the problem.
Why the change regarding the height of plantings along roadways? Safety. A brown-eyed Susan plant can easily reach 5 feet tall. We want our community to be beautiful and we appreciate when residents plant and maintain the boulevards, but when boulevard plantings create visibility issues between traffic and cars/kids in driveways and yards, we have to adjust.
As we roll into summer, residents should know that the City Council recently approved changes to the City ordinance about turfgrass management. Some of the important changes include:
• The allowable length of turf grass increased from 6 inches to 8 inches.
• Grass must be cut at least once every two weeks from May 15 to October 15.
• Native plantings in boulevards are permitted, but they shall not exceed a height of 18 inches and must be cut to a maximum height of 8 inches at least once per year.
• Plantings in the boulevard shall not obstruct traffic or overhang public streets or pathways.
If you have concerns about a property, report it using our SeeClickFix app!
More information: https://www.oakdalemn.gov/402/Comment-or-Issue
