No construction, cultivation or alteration of a boulevard may be done without a Boulevard Treatment Permit. This includes the construction of fences and any landscaping other than turf grass and regular maintenance. All modifications to the boulevard must comply with The Boulevard Bylaw 5610.

The boulevard treatment permit form is available to download here or as a hard copy from City Hall.

If you would like to plant a tree on the boulevard, you may request to do so at your own expense using the application above or email [email protected] to request a tree be supplied to you by the City. Please note that we cannot guarantee availability of trees.

Resident Responsibilities

According to The Boulevard Bylaw 5610, residents are responsible for the general care and maintenance of the boulevard area adjacent to their property, including cutting grass, maintaining a neat appearance, and keeping clean and free from weeds, litter, hazards, and other undesirable objects.

This applies to fences, shrubs, and hedges on boulevards, but not to trees. Residents may not prune or remove any trees on the boulevard. Pruning or removing a public tree is a bylaw infraction and may result in a fine. You can request that a boulevard tree be pruned using the Report an Issue feature in the menu at the top of this page or on the City of Moose Jaw app.

The City of Moose Jaw is fortunate to have many treed boulevards. The presence of these trees greatly enhances the community landscape through environmental, economic, and health and wellbeing benefits. The City has made a large investment in our urban forest and is responsible for the care of all public trees, which includes all trees on boulevards, in parks, and along pathways. A public tree is any tree with 50% or more of the base of its trunk on City owned property. Residents are not permitted to prune, remove, or apply pesticides to any public tree.

Crews can be seen pruning trees to improve their health and safety, particularly in the fall and winter. In addition to this ongoing maintenance program, assistance from the public plays a major role in providing up to date information on the health of our urban forest. Information regarding dead, damaged or diseased trees can be given to the Parks and Recreation Department using the Report an Issue feature in the menu at the top of this page or on the City of Moose Jaw app.

Homeowners who prune city owned trees are in violation of The Boulevard Bylaw 5610, subsection 3.(3), which states, “No owner or occupant may prune or remove any public tree.” Violators of this bylaw may be punished by fines of up to $10,000. It is also illegal to prune any elm tree in Saskatchewan during the provincial elm pruning ban, which is in effect from April 1 to August 31 each year.

Boulevards adjacent to parks or City property are maintained by the City.

Residents adjacent to neighbourhood pathways less than 30 ft wide are responsible for the general care of the pathway area, such as cutting the grass and keeping the area free from litter. The City maintains pathways that are 9 m (30 ft) or wider. Neighbourhood paths provide important connections between city sidewalks and parks or trails and allow pedestrians easier access through neighbourhoods.

Example of a neighbourhood Pathway

Well maintained back alleys reduce opportunity for crime to occur and make Moose Jaw a more enjoyable place to live. Residents are responsible for keeping the portion of the back alley directly adjacent to their property neat and unobstructed. This includes pruning trees and shrubs growing along the alley. The City does not take responsibility for trees growing in back alleys.

For trees growing near power lines, contact SaskPower at 1-888-757-6937 or via their website to have the trees trimmed safely away from the lines.

Public green space refers to City-owned open land used for recreation, preserving natural spaces, or for growing grass, trees, and shrubs. This includes parks, trails, sports fields, and open spaces for floodways and community shelterbelts.

Residents of properties backing directly onto public green space are responsible for the general maintenance of 1 m (3 ft) of space behind their property or fence line. The City does not mow this area to prevent accidental damage to private property. Homeowner responsibilities include mowing the grass and keeping the area free from weeds, litter, hazards, and other objects. This does not allow for gardens along the edge of the greenspace.

Residents may not prune any trees or shrubs growing in public parks green space, even if they are within 1 m of the property line. If a public tree needs attention, please submit a request to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Residents should also familiarize themselves with the City’s bylaws, many of which can be found online at moosejaw.ca/bylaws. Under the Miscellaneous Bylaw, sections 21 and 27, residents may not store anything or do anything to injure or damage any living thing in a public space. This includes driving private vehicles and equipment in public green spaces as it causes damage to the turf and pathways.

Residents may not plant or store anything outside of their property without written permission from the Parks and Recreation Department. More information on planting in public green spaces can be found here.

Plantings in Public Green Space

If you would like to plant trees or shrubs in a park or green space, you must first obtain written permission from the Parks and Recreation Department. Plantings may be carried out by individuals or organizations. Once installed, the planting becomes the property of the City of Moose Jaw.  Details and the application form can be found here.

City Responsibilities

The City is responsible for the care and maintenance of all public parks and greenspaces, such as trail areas. This includes mowing the grass, emptying garbage bins, weed and pest control as needed, and pruning trees and shrubs. If a park or greenspace needs attention, let us know by clicking “Report an Issue” in the menu at the top of this page or the City of Moose Jaw app.