The warmer weather is here and that leads to the potential for some unsightly yards in Saskatoon with abandoned vehicles, miscellaneous items and tall weeds being exposed with the snow now gone.

Assistant Fire Chief Yvonne Raymer, with the Saskatoon Fire Department, says residents looking to report a yard of concern can do so by contacting the property maintenance hotline at 306-975-2828. Those looking for updates on a particular property can email fireinspections@saskatoon.ca.

Raymer says first time offenders who are not aware of the property maintenance and nuisance abatement bylaw will be educated. “If you have not been educated on the bylaw, we’ll take an opportunity to educate and give an opportunity to remedy it. The other means of this is somebody that’s maybe, not complying or a repeat offender, we can issue tickets.”

A first offence ticket is $250, a second offence will net a $500 ticket and a third offence is $750. After that, if an individual continues to repeat, Raymer says charges can be laid. If you have an accumulation of garbage or miscellaneous junk that is affecting the amenity of the area and or attracting rodents along with any other conditions that make it unsafe, those scenarios also apply under the bylaw.

Raymer says the spring months tend to be busiest time of the year for complaints regarding unkept yards.