The County of St. Paul is increasing several service fees as council looks to better recover costs and discourage misuse of municipal resources.

The changes, approved as part of the 2026 fee schedule, focus on services tied to rural land maintenance and enforcement.

 

Mowing fees increased to discourage repeat issues

One of the most discussed changes was the cost of mowing unsightly properties in hamlets and subdivisions.

Administration said the previous $200 charge was too low and often treated as a convenience fee rather than a penalty.

“The $200 is a heck of a deal and people would gladly just pay the 200 bucks,” council heard.

After debate over how to clearly communicate the pricing, council agreed to a new structure of $150 per hour with a three-hour minimum, effectively setting a minimum charge of $450.

The goal is to encourage property owners to maintain their own lots rather than relying on the county.

 

Weed control rates formalized

Council also approved a new fee structure for private weed control work — something that previously existed in policy but without defined rates.

Administration said the new pricing is based on averages from neighbouring municipalities and will be important for enforcement.

“This is helpful in two fronts,” council heard. “In the event that we were to issue a weed notice, there would need to be something from council saying these are the rates.”

Without an approved schedule, residents could challenge charges issued by the county.

 

Beaver dam breaching fees increase

The county also raised fees for beaver dam breaching on private land, increasing the cost from $250 per dam to $500 for the first dam and $300 for each additional one.

Administration said the previous rate was far below cost recovery.

“Our $250 per dam is nowhere near cost recovery,” council was told.

While the new rates still don’t fully cover costs, they bring the county closer to breaking even on the service.

 

Shift toward cost recovery and accountability

Across all three areas, council’s direction was consistent — ensure taxpayers are not subsidizing services that primarily benefit individual landowners.

At the same time, councillors emphasized the importance of keeping services accessible for those who genuinely need them, while discouraging overuse or reliance on the municipality for routine property maintenance.