East Lansing Is Ending “No Mow May”—Here’s What’s Replacing It

If you live in East Lansing and you were looking forward to "No Mow May", I have some bad news for you; it's coming to an end — technically.

“No Mow May” Is (Technically) Ending

For years now, East Lansing has observed "No Mow May" — an annual pause in enforcing city ordinances when it comes to your lawn. Basically, you got a month-long pass to not mow your lawn in an effort to help encourage native pollinators to get a nice start to the season.

Moving forward, instead of "No Mow May" the City of East Lansing has replaced the pause with a permanent year-round plan.

What the New Lawn Plan Looks Like

Currently, the framework is still in its draft form, but here's the general idea:

property owners “may continue maintaining traditional turfgrass lawns, incorporate pollinator-friendly practices within maintained turf areas, or establish native garden or native lawn areas that exceed standard height limits when properly managed.”

“Compliance is evaluated based on observable stewardship, maintenance, and safety conditions rather than aesthetic preference or uniform landscape appearance. This document provides clarity for property owners, consistency for enforcement staff, and transparency in how landscaping compliance decisions are evaluated"

When the city settles on the final form of the plan, the city will release official guidelines for residents and city employees to use when it comes to lawn maintenance and helping to create a "healthier urban environment".

Get our free mobile app

If you have questions, don't worry — the city plans on making a FAQ page on the city website and holding a public event to answer questions.