FORT WORTH, Texas — The City of Fort Worth is now implementing a permanent lawn tool lending program where residents can request tools to clean up and maintain their yards.
Eduardo Martinez, a code compliance officer in Fort Worth, understands that owning a home comes with lots of expenses, and when it comes to maintaining your yard, he said the tool prices can add up quickly.
“Lawn mowers can get up in the hundreds, anywhere from $300 for a lawn mower, a couple hundred for an edger,” Martinez said.
To bring those costs down, the City of Fort Worth is now offering residents free lawn tool rental and drop off.
“I think it would be a huge relief, it would make it easier on me than having to find someone to do my yard or pay somebody, getting the tools to my house or buying them it would definitely take a lot of stress off me,” Martinez said.
The city will even make sure the tools have gas when they get dropped off.
“We have blowers, edgers, lawn mowers, loppers, clippers. We also have some tree pruners, rakes,” Martinez said.
In Texas, code enforcement lawn fines depend on the city; some overgrown grass and weed violations can lead to fines, court citations and even property liens if left unpaid.
“They can get into the hundreds especially if its multiple citations, just because not only is it a citation for violating the ordinance, but then the city has to find a contractor to come and mow the property if it’s been that way for several months or years,” said Brenda Matute, with Fort Worth code compliance.
The main benefit for the city, aside from limiting those citations, is keeping the city beautiful, Matute said.
“We’ve had dozens of people already signing up; they’re waiting for their equipment to get dropped off,” Matute said.