Sustainable Landcare

As a coastal city, South Portland has focused on reducing the use of landcare chemicals to protect the health of Casco Bay, our waterways, residents, pets, and natural ecosystems. In 2016, South Portland passed an ordinance to restrict the use of pesticides, and four years later the City amended its Landcare Management Ordinance to add a restriction on fertilizer use.

In 2020, South Portland also formally adopted One Climate Future, which links our pesticide and fertilizer ordinance with priorities to build soil health and restore ecosystems across the city. Soil health, water quality, and robust ecosystems are key to addressing climate change by providing habitat, reducing erosion, filtering stormwater pollution, mitigating extreme heat, and sequestering carbon.

Programs & Policies

Pesticide and Fertilizer Use - Learn about the City's Landcare Management Ordinance, which restricts the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers on public and private property in the City of South Portland. Plus, get tips for transitioning to organic lawn care.

Resilient Yards program - Learn how you can help revitalize South Portland with sustainable organic landscapes, one yard or home at a time.

South Portland Electric Tool Library (SPETL) - Borrow electric tools for free using your South Portland Library Card. 

Why Switch to Electric Landcare Equipment? - Learn why switching to electric landcare equipment benefits our collective wellbeing and our environment.