Saint Paul residents appeal tall-grass citations for native pollinator gardens

Overview

Updated Oct 8

Three Saint Paul homeowners are still contesting city orders to cut their native plantings, and a fourth resident's $3,000 bee lawn was mowed by a city contractor even after he won his appeal. Council members agreed in August the mowing was a mistake and called for changes to the enforcement process.

The cases test whether Saint Paul's decades-old vegetation ordinance can accommodate yards planted with native grasses and wildflowers instead of turf. A 2023 Minnesota statute requires cities to allow "managed natural landscapes," which the law defines as intentional, maintained plantings. The city has kept enforcing its tall-grass rules regardless.

Why it matters

A ruling against native plantings could set a precedent forcing Minnesota homeowners to tear out intentional pollinator gardens or face fines.

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Key Indicators

Active appeals against tall-grass notices

Three separate residents filed appeals on the same day.

City council hearings scheduled

Hearings were set for the Stryker Avenue and Ashland Avenue cases in late August.

36 inches

Max height for boulevard plantings

Saint Paul's current ordinance limits boulevard plant height.

$3,000

Bee lawn cut after appeal won

A city contractor mowed Adam Dullinger's pollinator lawn before the council approved his appeal.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Ever wondered what historical figures would say about today's headlines?

People Involved

Kinnell Tackett

Homeowner at 444 Johnson Parkway

Appealed notice, received compliance extension to September 14

Anna Fraser

Homeowner at 844 Stryker Avenue

Contesting notice; public hearing set for August 26

Mary Olson

Homeowner at 555 Ashland Avenue

Appeal filed, hearing pending

Adam Dullinger

Homeowner at Kent Street, Saint Paul Ward 5

Won his appeal, but a city contractor mowed his bee lawn before council approval; council called for process changes

Organizations Involved

Saint Paul City Council

Municipal legislative body

Hearing appeals and setting compliance deadlines

The legislative body responsible for ruling on the residents' appeals and interpreting the city's vegetation ordinance.

Saint Paul Department of Safety & Inspections

City Agency

Enforcing vegetation ordinance and issuing citations

The department that issued the tall grass notices and is responsible for enforcing the city's property maintenance codes.

Timeline

August 2026 September 2026

4 events Latest: September 14th, 2026 · 1 month ago

Tap a bar to jump to that date

September 2026
Compliance deadline for Johnson Parkway property
Latest Deadline

Kinnell Tackett must complete his native planting conversion to satisfy the extension granted by the city.
September 14th, 2026
August 2026
City council public hearing for Anna Fraser
Hearing

Fraser's case goes before the city council to contest the citation for her boulevard garden using cardboard and rocks.
August 26th, 2026
Residents file appeals against tall-grass notices
Legal Action

Tackett, Fraser, and Olson appeal city orders to cut vegetation they identify as native plantings. Tackett receives a compliance extension.
August 25th, 2026
City contractor cuts $3,000 bee lawn after appeal won
Enforcement

A city-hired contractor mowed Adam Dullinger's pollinator lawn on Kent Street before the council approved his appeal. Council members agreed the mowing was a mistake and called for process changes.
August 2026

Scenarios

Council Grants Native Planting Exceptions

Deadline passed (Oct 1, 2026)

Discussed by: Community garden associations and local sustainability advocates

The city council rules in favor of the residents, establishing that intentional native plantings with a submitted work plan are not 'weeds' under the ordinance. This could lead to an official permitting process for pollinator gardens, similar to South St. Paul's ordinance, and encourage more homeowners to convert lawns.

Homeowners Cut Plantings to Avoid Fines

Deadline passed (Oct 15, 2026)

Discussed by: Property rights and traditional lawn advocates

Facing rising fines and the cost of legal battles, the residents ultimately trim or remove their native gardens to comply with the current code. The appeals fail, setting a precedent that discourages similar projects and reinforces the primacy of turf grass.

Compromise Reached on a Case-by-Case Basis

Deadline passed (Oct 15, 2026)

Discussed by: City staff and the residents

Similar to the Tackett case, the city offers extensions and compliance plans rather than upholding fines. The council avoids a sweeping policy ruling, instead treating each property individually. The ordinance remains unchanged, but enforcement shifts to a 'work plan' system.

City Revises Enforcement Process After Mowing Error

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: Ward 5 Council Member Hwa Jeong Kim and city staff

After the Dullinger mowing, council members asked for changes to how tall-grass complaints are handled, including better notice before contractors are dispatched. A revised process could pause enforcement while appeals are pending, preventing more native yards from being cut.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2020-2025

No Mow May Movement (2020s)

Cities across the US, including several in Minnesota, began participating in 'No Mow May,' encouraging residents to let lawns grow to support early-season pollinators. This sparked debates about aesthetics versus ecology in residential areas.

Then

Many municipalities passed temporary resolutions or proclamations supporting the movement.

Now

Normalized the idea of 'messy' lawns as ecologically beneficial, paving the way for more permanent native planting ordinances.

Why this matters now

The Saint Paul appeals are the logical next step after No Mow May—moving from a temporary allowance to a permanent legal right to have non-turf landscapes.

2019

South St. Paul Native Plant Ordinance (2019)

In response to similar conflicts, South St. Paul passed Ordinance 1354, explicitly legalizing native plantings. The law requires removing existing turfgrass, a 5-foot setback from property lines, and adherence to industry maintenance standards.

Then

Resolved ambiguity for homeowners and inspectors by creating a clear, permit-free path for native gardens.

Now

Provided a regional model for how cities can formally accommodate non-traditional landscaping.

Why this matters now

South St. Paul's ordinance offers a ready-made template for Saint Paul. The current appeals might push Saint Paul to adopt similar formal rules instead of relying on individual case-by-case extensions.

1990s

The Fight Over the 'Freedom Lawn' (1990s)

A growing anti-lawn movement, championed by writers like Sara Stein, challenged the suburban ideal of the manicured grass carpet. Homeowners began planting meadows and woodlands, often clashing with homeowners' associations (HOAs) and municipal codes.

Then

Many fights ended with lawsuits and property owners forced to mow or pay fines.

Now

Slowly shifted public opinion and led to more 'natural landscaping' provisions in some local ordinances, though often with strict design requirements.

Why this matters now

This is the legal and cultural ancestor of the current Saint Paul conflict, showing how these disputes have moved from HOA covenants to municipal code and city council hearings.