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You are here: Home > Community > Boulevard Garden Policy Boulevard Gardens - The City of Barrie's policyThe City of Barrie has a policy regulating gardening on the municipal boulevard. The boulevard is the area of city-owned land between the homeowner’s front property line and the street curb. The policy arises from increasingly noticeable efforts by residents to beautify their streetscape. The attractive gardens contribute to Barrie’s success as a winning community in the international municipal beautification contest Communities in Bloom, which recognizes the efforts of municipalities, corporations and individual citizens who are striving to improve their community through horticulture, heritage and the environment.
Important ConsiderationsWhen planting a garden on the boulevard, it is important to be aware of the reasons that the boulevard exists. Improperly planted boulevard gardens can create problems in the busy boulevard zone that affect safety, services and damage to public and private property. Human safety is a priority with respect to both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. By avoiding certain plants and materials, human risk is diminished. Trip hazards are avoided from wandering pebbles or tall plants. Sightlines are preserved for moving vehicles. Another priority is to ensure that service continues to residents. Pipes and cables are laid at varying depths within the boulevard to provide water, hydro, cable, telephone and gas to each home. Fire hydrants, bell boxes and electrical boxes are noticeable above ground. Plant material on the boulevard should never impede access to these services, especially in an emergency. Damage can occur when city vehicles such as snow plows, sidewalk plows and street sweepers hit items placed within the boulevard by residents, causing delays in service while equipment is being repaired. Large items take up valuable snow storage area needed for clearing streets and driveways in the winter. New Guidelines and RegistrationTo avoid these problems, a new set of boulevard garden guidelines has been developed. Homeowners are now required to register their boulevard garden with the City and agree to follow the guidelines. Not only does this ensure that the homeowner is provided with the guidelines but it also gives the City a chance to notify the resident in advance of scheduled construction within their boulevard. This allows the homeowner time to salvage plants before construction begins. Unfortunately no notice can be given for emergency works. There is no cost to register. Residents can obtain a copy of the new guidelines/registration form by clicking on Guidelines & Registration Form. A suggested plants list is also available below or click here for Suggested Plants Easy Print Version. As soon as the resident submits a signed form to the City, they are free to begin their garden. The form will be directed to the Leisure, Transit and Works Department by City staff and registered. Following the new guidelines will help reduce taxpayer costs for damages to City maintenance vehicles, staff time and hopefully avert potential injuries. Those interested in adding to the beauty of their neighbourhood may also find that their boulevard garden is a new stop on the Communities In Bloom tour. For more information or questions, please contact the Roads and Parks Operations at 739-4255.
City of Barrie Boulevard Garden PolicyProperty owners are encouraged to maintain the standard turfgrass municipal boulevard in front of their property. Property owners wishing to install alternatives to sod shall follow the non-standard boulevard landscape treatment guidelines. Guidelines for Non-standard Boulevard Treatments 1. The property owner shall sign this policy below to attest they have read and will follow these guidelines and shall submit their signed policy to the City for registration prior to commencing a boulevard garden (see below).
2. It is the responsibility of the property owner to locate all servicing, such as gas, phone, Hydro, cable etc. prior to commencing any works on the boulevard. 3. All boulevard gardens shall be limited to perennial or annual plant materials up to 60cm* tall except within street intersection lots where plants shall not exceed 30cm tall (in order to preserve driver sightlines over corner daylight triangles). Shrubs up to 30cm in height are permitted. Decomposable mulches are permitted. Noxious weeds and invasive plants are not permitted. PLEASE NOTE: PROPERTY OWNERS ARE NOT PERMITTED TO PLANT TREES ON THE MUNICIPAL BOULEVARD. 4. A 30cm setback shall remain in place for all sidewalks, curbs and driveway edges to prevent tripping hazards.
5. The landscape treatment shall maintain positive surface drainage. 6. Property owners shall maintain their sidewalk free and clear of all debris in accordance with City of Barrie Municipal Code 88-260 Sec 7. The City of Barrie reserves the right with due notice to require that the boulevard be returned to turfgrass at any time at the property owner's expense, failing which the City may remove all non-compliant material and restore the boulevard to the turfgrass standard. 8. It is the responsibility of the property owner to located their property line through their legal survey. In accordance with Zoning By-law Section 5.3.9.3 (Residential) retaining walls or fences shall be set back 0.3 metres from any lot line abutting a street. Hedges shall be set back 1.0 metres from the front lot line and in the case of a corner lot, hedges shall be also set back 1.0 metres from the side lot line abutting the street. Permanent installations such as in-groun irrigation systems, fencing or hard mulches such as pea gravel or small rocks are not permitted on the boulevard. 9. In the event that emergency works are required that will disturb an existing boulevard garden, no notification will be provided. In the event of scheduled boulevard works, city staff will notify the homeowner two weeks in advance, giving them the opportunity to salvage plant material. Following any boulevard works, the boulevard will be restored to the sod standard unless the homeowner states their intent to reestablish the boulvard plantings within 30 days, weather permitting. Reestablished boulevard gardens should be in compliance with this policy. Following the 30 day period, if no homeowner plantings have taken place, the city will restore the boulevard to turf. The City of Barrie assumes no responsibility for the cost of repairs of any damages to the garden on the boulevard. 10. The property owner shall maintain clear and easy access to all above ground and underground services including but not limited to fire hydrants and valves, Bell pedestals, and Hydro transformer boxes. Suggested Plants ListI. SUN Common Name Latin Name Perennials Beebalm Monarda didyma Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Blanketflower Gallardia x grandiflora Blazing Star Liatris spicata Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Coreopsis Coreopsis spp. Daylily Hemerocallis spp. Dragons Blood Sedum spurium Evening Primrose Oenothera fruiticosa Garland Flower Daphne cneorum var. Hens and Chicks Sempervivum Lupine Lupinus spp. Maltese Cross Lychinis chalcedonica Moss Pink Phlox subulata var Pincushion Flower Scabiosa Poppy Papaver spp. Purple Coneflower Echinacea pupurea Sage Salvia spp. Saxifrage Saxifraga Shasta Daisy Chrysanthemum x superbum Snow-In-Summer Cerastium tomentosum Speedwell Veronica spp. Spiderwort Tradescantia Yarrow Achillea spp. Groundcovers Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Colorata Euonymus Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ Periwinkle Vinca minor Thyme Thymus spp. Winter Heath Erica carnea Ornamental Grasses Fescue Festuca spp. Hairgrass Deschampsia spp. Sedge Carex spp. Sweet Flag Acorus calamus Variegated Manna Grass Glycera maxima ‘Variegata’ Bulbs Crocus Crocus spp. Daffodils Narcissus spp. Grape hyacinths Muscarii Iris Iris spp. Scilla Scilla Snowdrops Galanthus Spanish Bluebell Endymion hispanica Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivum Tulips Tulipifera spp. Low Spreading Evergreens Blue Rug Juniper Juniperus horizonalis ‘Wiltonii’ Dwarf Canadian Hemlock Tsuga Canadensis ‘Cole’s Prostrata’ Golden Japenese Yew Taxus cuspidata ‘Aurescens’ Prince of Siberian Carpet II. SHADE Common Name Latin Name Perennials Deadnettle Lamium maculatum var. Goat’s Beard Astilbe spp. Groundcovers Common Bugle Ajuga reptans Ivy Hedera Helix Bergenia Berginia cordifolia Sweet Woodruff Galium odoratum Periwinkle Vinca minor Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens Colorata Euonymus Euonymus fortunei ‘Coloratus’ Japenese Spurge Pachysandra terminalis Plantain Lily Hosta spp. Blue Lungwort Pulmonaria angustifolia Ferns Maidenhair Fern Adiantum pedatum Lady Fern Athyrium filix femina Hayscented Fern Dennstaeditia punctilobula Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoides
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tion 4.12.0.0.0 and Nuisance By-law 2004-142 Section 2.
