Burlington lawns run from small lakeshore lots in Aldershot to big rural properties under the escarpment in Kilbride and Lowville, and the City treats them differently by size. Burlington also has a quirk the rest of Halton does not: in the off season, it takes grass clippings with yard waste. Here is what lawn care costs across the city, and the local rules a crew should be working to.
2026 lawn mowing prices in Burlington
Season contract prices for mowing, trimming, edging and blowing. Add 30% to 60% for a one-off cut.
| Lot size | Per cut (season contract) | Full season, 26 to 28 cuts |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse or small lot, under 2,000 sq ft of lawn | $45 - $75 | $1,300 - $1,900 |
| Standard suburban, 2,000 to 5,000 sq ft | $60 - $110 | $1,700 - $2,800 |
| Large lot, 5,000 to 12,000 sq ft | $110 - $210 | $2,900 - $5,200 |
Townhouse complexes in Orchard and Alton are often in the small band, and most of Headon Forest, Millcroft and Brant Hills is standard. Roseland, Shoreacres and the escarpment properties in Mt Nemo and Lowville run to the large band, often with long slopes that are slower and harder to cut evenly.
Add-ons and when they happen
| Service | 2026 price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Spring cleanup | $280 - $650 | Mid April to early May |
| Fall cleanup and leaf removal | $320 - $850 | Late October to mid November |
| Core aeration | $130 - $280 | Late August to late September |
| Overseeding with aeration | $190 - $480 | Same visit as aeration |
| Fertilizer program, 5 visits | $380 - $750 | April through October |
| Grub control with nematodes | $220 - $480 | Late July to mid August |
Burlington soils below the escarpment are mostly clay loam till over a fairly level clay plain, which compacts and holds water in spring. Aeration in early September and overseeding into the holes is the fix for a thin, weedy lawn here, far more than any spray. For the bigger picture on what a season costs, see our lawn care cost guide.
Burlington's lot maintenance rules
Burlington's Lot Maintenance By-law 049-2022 requires all vegetative growth to be cut once it passes 20 cm on properties of 0.4 ha or less. Owners also maintain the boulevard in front of their property, at their own expense, to the same limit. On larger lots, which covers a lot of north Burlington, the rule is narrower: a 20 cm strip must be kept within 3 m of every neighbouring property line, and the rest can be left longer. Gardens, shrubs, food plants and naturalized areas that meet the by-law are exempt.
Enforcement starts with an order. If it is ignored, the City can have the work done and add the cost to your property taxes with 15% interest, and fines for breaching an order can reach $10,000 a day. Nobody is fined for one long week in June, but a lawn left all summer while a home is empty or for sale gets reported.
Clippings, yard waste and leaves in Burlington
Halton Region collects yard waste every other week from early April to the second week of December, in paper bags or open, labelled rigid containers up to 125 L and 50 lb. Grass clippings are not accepted in Halton yard waste, with one exception: in Burlington they are taken from October to May. In the June to September mowing season they stay on the lawn, which is where they do the most good anyway. Halton says clippings can supply up to 25% of a lawn's yearly fertilizer needs.
Burlington's loose leaf collection runs in three zones in 2026: Zone 1 from November 9 to 13, Zone 2 from November 16 to 20 and Zone 3 from November 23 to 27, weather permitting. Put leaves at the curb no more than two days before your zone's week, with no branches mixed in, and keep them off sidewalks, bike lanes, ditches and catch basins. Since 2025, leaves that block a sidewalk or bike lane, or cause flooding, can be fined under the lot maintenance by-law.
That two day rule is why fall cleanups in Burlington need to be timed. We book cleanups so the leaves go out just ahead of your zone, or we take them away ourselves so nothing has to wait at the curb.
Watering and weeds in Burlington
Burlington is on Halton water, and the Region currently asks for careful use: match your watering day to the last digit of your address, odd or even, per Halton's outdoor water use page. Established lawns on clay rarely need more than an inch a week, rain included, put down in one or two long soaks before 8 a.m. Our summer watering schedule breaks it down by month.
For weeds, the provincial cosmetic pesticide ban applies here as everywhere in Ontario. Iron-based products from the Allowable List will burn down dandelions for a while, and only a licensed applicator can be paid to put them down, but the lasting fix in Burlington is the same as the clay fix: aerate, overseed every fall, and keep the mower at 3 in. Ontario's cosmetic pesticide rules list what homeowners can still use.
Where we cut in Burlington
Aldershot, the lakeshore, Roseland, Tyandaga, Brant Hills, Headon Forest, Millcroft, Orchard, Alton, and north to Kilbride, Mt Nemo and Lowville. One crew, a fixed weekly day, rescheduled rather than skipped after rain.
Want the lawn watered for you? See sprinkler systems in Burlington and the backflow rule.
Frequently asked questions
How much does lawn mowing cost in Burlington?
About $45 to $75 a cut for townhouses and $60 to $110 for a typical suburban lot on a season contract, or $1,300 to $2,800 for most full seasons. Large lots run $110 to $210 a cut.
How long can grass be in Burlington?
20 cm on lots of 0.4 ha or less, including the boulevard. On larger lots, a 20 cm strip must be kept within 3 m of neighbouring property lines.
When is Burlington leaf collection in 2026?
Zone 1 November 9 to 13, Zone 2 November 16 to 20 and Zone 3 November 23 to 27, weather permitting. Leaves go out no more than two days before.
Does Burlington pick up grass clippings?
Only from October to May, with yard waste. In the summer mowing season, clippings are not accepted and should be left on the lawn.
When should I aerate my lawn in Burlington?
Late August to late September, followed by overseeding. Burlington clay compacts, so most lawns benefit every year or two.
Do you mow large rural properties in north Burlington?
Yes. We often cut the by-law strip along property lines weekly and the open acreage less often, which keeps cost down and keeps you compliant.