Get money-saving tips in your inbox.

Stay on top of personal finance tips from our money experts!

News & Resources

Your Lawn Could Ruin Your Insurance Claim

Aug. 2, 2019
5 mins
A man working from home sits on his laptop at his kitchen island

Frequent maintenance helps prevent your home from turning into that house on the street. You know the one that looks dishevelled and uninviting. One of the first things to get out of hand is the lawn. Upkeep for a groomed, weed-free lawn happens regularly and takes a lot of effort. It can be even more difficult when dealing with urine spots left behind from your dog, an infestation of pests, or water restrictions.

One way to have an eternally green, effortless lawn is to install artificial turf. It sounds like a good idea. You can ditch the lawnmower, and you may never have to pull weeds again. But before you call a landscaper, you may want to consider the consequences purchasing this feature may have on your home insurance.

Where Can I Install Artificial Turf?

Artificial turf is popping up all over the city, from condo rooftops, sports fields, and schoolyards. But you better think twice before installing it in your front yard.

The CBC reported that Scarborough resident Sangeeta Gounder received a bylaw violation notice, in May, for her artificial lawn. The turf has two feet of drainage and has been professionally installed. However, the city’s main concern is still about drainage. When Gounder spoke with the city, she was warned that artificial turf does not absorb water as fast as the natural ground cover would. An increased risk of flooding would occur after a heavy rainfall, when the snow melts, or if the drainage were to become blocked.

If the surface was not installed correctly or was uneven it could also create pooling.

The Bylaw

The Toronto bylaw states, “Artificial turf is not acceptable or considered to be soft landscaping and is, therefore, not permitted”. It further indicates that 100% of the front yard area, not covered by a driveway, must be landscaping. Of this, 75% must be in the form of soft landscaping. If you are found to be in violation of the bylaw it can result in a $1,400 fine or a mandate to remove the artificial turf. However, infractions are only investigated when a call is placed to 311.

Even if you are lucky enough to have evaded the bylaw officers thus far, in the event of flooding, your insurance company may have reason to deny your claim.

The Impact Artificial Turf May Have on Home Insurance

Whether you had your artificial lawn installed professionally or if it was a DIY project, it could have repercussions. If the artificial turf were to have poor drainage or the drain were to become blocked, your basement could flood. Your insurance company could deny your claim due to negligence.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) defines negligence as, “To fail to do what a reasonable and prudent person would do (or to do what such a person would not do)”. In other words, if you do not act in a reasonable manner you are negligent.

For example, if you notice a small amount of water pooling on the window sills of your basement, and don’t take the necessary steps to prevent further water damage, this could be considered negligence. Removing leaves, excess debris and clearing drainage paths would be a reasonable preventative measure.

Even for professionally installed artificial turf, it would be quite difficult to guarantee the drainage was working, and without tearing up your pristine lawn it would be almost impossible to check.

If you are considering installing artificial turf, in your Toronto home, keep in mind your initial investment may result in a fine, removal fees, or a denied claim from your insurance company.

How to Know if You’re Covered in the Event of a Flood

Are you covered in the event of flooding? If you’re not sure, call your insurance company to clarify what is included in your policy. If you aren’t completely satisfied with what they have to offer, you can compare options for home insurance at RATESDOTCA.

Hayley Osmond

Hayley Osmond is an editor and writer in the personal finance space, where she uses her eight years of media and marketing experience to bring content to life. She specializes in money products, including mortgages, home and auto insurance, and credit cards. Hayley holds a Broadcast Journalism diploma from Sheridan College and was awarded the Shaw Media Journalism and Media Award for graduating at the top of her class. Her work has appeared in Global News and diverse digital corporate training materials behind the scenes.

Hayley is passionate about making complex subjects, such as home buying and financial literacy, concise and intriguing. Her work has garnered media coverage from The Globe and Mail, blogTO, Yahoo! News, and CityNews 680 and has been syndicated across other publications.

Latest home insurance articles

Does your insurance cover the full replacement cost of your home?
Do you know if your home insurance will cover the full cost of rebuilding your home in the event of a disaster? Learn how home replacement cost works - before you need it.
5 mins read
Navigating home insurance: By-law coverage
If your home needs repairs, by-law insurance covers the extra costs of upgrading to meet new safety standards, beyond what regular insurance covers.
4 mins read
Rebates for climate-friendly changes to your home
As climate change worsens, more people are doing their part to limit its effects. Here are just some of the rebates available for climate-change-friendly upgrades to your home.
5 mins read

Subscribe to our newsletter

Stay on top of our latest offers, relevant news and tips!

Thanks for joining!

You'll be hearing from us shortly - stay tuned.