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Clothes Lines - Is there a By-Law Prohibiting Them?

In the Town of Markham, there is no By-Law Prohibiting Clothes Lines.

At one time it was common for developers to place restrictive covenants on title when constructing a new subdivision. The developer in these circumstances were normally trying to market an "up-scale" development and would register clauses that prohibited clothes line, television antennas etc.

Enforcement of such clauses are a civil matter and the courts seldom recognize any covenant on title unless it is a functional purpose- i.e. grant of a right-of-way or access for maintenance.

Clothes Lines are a cost effective and environmentally way of drying clothes and in my opinion should be used whenever possible.

However, we do have to have respect and compassion for our neighbours.  In the New Urbanist areas, the yards are small, and I feel that it would be unneighborly to be hanging laundry a few feet away from a neighbours patio or continuously blocking a view.

Those portable laundry poles seem to me to be a good alternative if the landscape of the yard doesn't permit a regular line.

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