With the ushering in of warmer weather and the blessings of rejuvenating rain, Fort Worth residents are being urged to keep their grass clippings off the streets to prevent blockages and potential flooding that could damage properties and city infrastructure. According to the City of Fort Worth, green thumbs and lawn-care pros should brush up on their yard etiquette or face possible fines for clogging up the stormwater drain system with yard waste.

It's more than just an eyesore; when grass clippings and other debris end up on the streets, they can cause havoc by blocking the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4), this issue could lead to water backing up along the sidewalks, seeping into homes, and all while carrying a stench that can't easily be forgotten not to mention the financial drain from cleanup costs. For a solution, the City of Fort Worth suggests sweeping or collecting yard waste and packaging it for curbside collection, blowing clippings back onto the lawn to act as mulch, or composting them for garden use.

The city isn't merely suggesting these actions out of goodwill—there's a law backing up their requests. Per City of Fort Worth Ordinance § 12.5-302, discharging anything into the MS4 that isn't stormwater—like those pesky grass clippings—could lead to fines for residents and their lawn-care hired hands, and it's not just a slap on the wrist, the city means business when it comes to keeping its storm drains clean and functional.

If you spot someone flouting the rules, the city encourages residents to be proactive by reporting such violations through the MyFW App or calling the City Call Center directly at 817-392-1234, because taking these small steps can make a big difference in maintaining the stormwater quality and it’s practical to ensure necessary precautions are part of our routine lawn maintenance before the problem snowballs, and costs balloon.