Urban Greening: A Guide to Boulevard Gardening in Port Moody

As part of regular boulevard maintenance activities, Port Moody residents are encouraged to transform the boulevard adjacent to their property into well-designed and maintained gardens, which can enhance the neighborhood, and support climate resiliency and biodiversity.

Boulevards are defined as the area between the edge of roadways and adjacent private property lines:

 boulevard schematic

Example of a planted boulevard:

 boulevard flowers

These guidelines aim to encourage residents to create colourful boulevard gardens while adhering to municipal bylaws and regulations. The City reserves the right to make changes to boulevard gardens if they do not adhere to City bylaws and guidelines.

Garden design and plant specifications

  • Plant diverse species to maximize flowering periods and habitat types.
  • Choose pollinator friendly plant species where possible and include a mix of early, mid, and late flowering plants to ensure a continuous pollen source.
  • Consider drought-resistant plants and practice efficient watering techniques.
  • For additional information and guidance please refer to the city’s Naturescape Principles and the Preferred Plant List. 
  • Refrain from using plants that can attract bears.
  • Invasive plants and noxious weeds are strictly prohibited.

The City's Climate Resilient Landscaping Standards (PDF) includes an example boulevard plant palette for "Narrow Median (1.5m or Less - Full Sun)" on page 10, with the example planting plans on page 12. 

Rules and regulations for boulevard gardens

  • Before digging in the boulevard, please ensure to check for all buried utilities by calling BC1 call.
  • Use of pesticide products for cosmetic purposes is not permitted under the City’s Pesticide Use Control Bylaw, 2003, No.2575.
  • Cutting down or removing a tree on any boulevard without permission from the city is strictly prohibited.
  • Residents can not disturb soil or make grade changes within the drip line of any tree located on the boulevard.
  • All boulevard gardens must support traffic safety and pedestrian access. City staff may require changes, or may alter existing plantings, if boulevard plantings interfere with these activities.
  • City staff or other agencies may require access to boulevards for infrastructure maintenance, construction, or other purposes. Residents are advised that boulevard gardens may not be restored by the city with original materials after such activities.
  • Plants and soil must be kept clear of utility covers, poles, traffic signals, streetlights, fire hydrants, city signs, or other structures to ensure visibility and accessibility for maintenance purposes.
  • Residents are prohibited from placing hard surfaces or structures, such as rocks, gravel, landscape ties, rails, asphalt, bricks, concrete structures, figurines, artificial turf products, fences, retaining walls, stairs, planters, raised garden beds, rockeries, or irrigation systems, or impervious materials on the boulevard.
  • Shrubbery and flower beds on the boulevard must be maintained at or below a permitted height of 0.6 meters from the ground level to facilitate clear sightlines and pedestrian access.
  • Residents must ensure that an area of at least 1.0m around hydrants remains clear and is free from obstructions and plantings, and to ensure that hydrants are readily visible from the roadway.
  • Residents must adhere to the regulations outlined in the Sidewalk and Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw, 1999, No. 2426, which provides guidelines for the construction and maintenance of boulevards.
  • Residents must also comply with the City of Port Moody Tree Protection Bylaw, 2015, No. 2961 which protects trees from being damaged or removed on all City property and should take care that trees are not being damaged by gardening activities.  

These guidelines are intended to promote responsible boulevard gardening practices that contribute to the beauty, safety, and sustainability of our community.

Residents are responsible to consult relevant municipal bylaws and regulations for further information and to ensure compliance with all applicable rules. Failure to follow bylaws may result in bylaw enforcement actions including fines.

For inquiries or concerns regarding boulevard gardening, please contact the City of Port Moody Engineering & Operations Department.