Municipal Pesticide Bylaws

In 1991, the city of Hudson, Quebec passed a by-law restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides - the first such by-law in North America. Two lawn care companies challenged the municipality's authority to enact the bylaw, but a Quebec court ruled in favour of Hudson. In 2001 the case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court of Canada which ruled in favour of Hudson, dismissing the challenge of the lawn care companies, and opening the door for similar by-laws to be enacted across Canada.

In 2003 Port Moody became the first municipality in British Columbia to pass a by-law controlling the use of non-essential, cosmetic pesticides. On Jan 15, 2004, Vancouver City Council followed with a cosmetic pesticide by-law that will become fully effective by Jan. 01, 2006.