The City of Prince George posted a notice this week on its Facebook page about clotheslines and whether it’s OK for people to hang their laundry to dry it in their yards.
As far as the city is concerned, there’s no bylaw against it, so go ahead and do it.
The problem with that is some building developments and subdivisions have covenants or binding agreements that specifically mention clotheslines are not to be strung up or they have to be kept in the backyard.
“If you buy into a subdivision, when you sign your mortgage and everything you’ve read all the covenants and usually, especially in most of the new developments, there’s a covenant in there that specifies no clotheslines and also satellite dishes,” said Prince George home developer Allen Cruezot, a past president of the Canadian Home Builders Association of Northern B.C.
“It’s a fairly common thing, but you see it a lot more from outside developers. Maybe they’re used to it more in their communities. Some of the local developers may have something in their covenant that says no clotheslines maybe in the front yard.”
The city does advise that if you live in an apartment, condo, or townhouse complex, you should check strata rules before hanging a line.
So what happens if the homeowner or tenant decides to ignore the rule? The paperwork might say they have to abide by what’s in the covenant, but who will enforce it?
The developer doesn’t, especially if it’s an out-of-town developer, said Cruezot.
“I suppose you can complain to the city to the bylaws people and they may come and try to enforce the covenants but I don’t know how much power or clout they would actually have. There is no bylaw against it and really there shouldn’t.”
