They must be pollen his leg! Missouri man is forced to pay $400 fine for having too many SUNFLOWERS in his yard because it violates city’s ‘turf-to-flower’ ratio

• Homeowner Chris Bank is required to pay $400 to the city of St. Peters for having too many sunflowers in his front yard
• Bank appeared in court on October 11, nearly a year after he appeared in court for violating a the city’s turf to flower ratio in 2021 
• The sunflower enthusiast plans on appealing the judges decision of citing him over the about 62 types of flowers he grew this year 

A Missouri man has been forced to pay a $400 fine for having too many sunflowers in his front yard.

Chris Bank appeared in court on October 11 after he refused to cut down his plants when he violated a city ordinance of turf to flower ratio in August.

He also violated another city of St Peters law by having a fence in his front yard.

Bank, who began to plant flowers in his yard during the pandemic to bring joy to spectators, received notice of his violation about a year after he was cited for the same problem in 2021. The previous case was immediately dropped during court. 

The homeowner was unpleased with the judge’s ruling and said officials were unable to explain the details of the violation.   

‘The judge just ruled with the city,’ Bank told Fox 2. ‘He didn’t give me an actual answer.

He just ruled with the city that I was not in compliance. I specifically asked for measurements of the violations, like any other violations. 

‘Where was I in the wrong, and they said it’s not up to the numbers, it’s up to their own interpretation.’ 

Now, Bank has to pay a fine, but he plans on fighting the judge’s decision. It’s unclear if Banks has filed an appeal.

Homeowner Chris Bank is required to pay $400 to the city of St. Peters for having too many sunflowers in his front yard

Bank appeared in court on October 11, nearly a year after he appeared in court for violating a the city’s turf to flower ratio in 2021

Bank began to plant the flowers in his yard during the pandemic to bring joy to spectators

The sunflower enthusiast shared his violation copy on Facebook along with his set court date

Last year, Bank was cited after some of his neighbors complained about his sunflowers. 

City officials of St. Peters issued him a warning to remove the flowers or he would have to appear in court. Bank resisted and the city issued a court date, according to Fox 2. 

However, officials failed to measure his lawn to ensure the homeowner was in violation. The case was dropped. 

This time around, a city spokesperson said that the city was simply listening to residents when they cited Bank in August.

‘He was in violation of two city ordinances,’ a Saint Peters spokesperson told DailyMail.com. ‘One had to do with a fence and the other with a front gate. 

‘We received complaints from neighbors and we are very diligent in responding to complaints from residents. It has nothing to do with too many flowers or an abandoned car lot, it has to do with the proper turf ratio.’ 

Bank was cited after some of his neighbors complained about his sunflowers 

The gardener has posted about his issues with the city online and has received active support from individuals in and out of state

Bank recently received more than $100 from an anonymous supporter 

Bank shared the legal fight has been exhausting and his sunflowers are trying to hold on

Bank actively posts about his sunflowers on social media. This year, he planted about 62 different sunflowers, including the ones dubbed Peach Passion, Chocolate Cherry and Sunfill Purple. 

The gardener has posted about his issues with the city online and has received active support from individuals in and out of state. 

He recently received an envelope with more than $100 dollars and a note that read: ‘For your defense fund and hopefully more sunflower seeds.’

Bank thanked the anonymous giver on social media and said the fight against the city was ‘exhausting.’ 

‘The fight has been just as exhausting as the work to start all these sunflowers from seeds to the last sunflower still trying to hold on,’ Bank wrote. 

Some of followers were upset over the judge’s ruling and called it a waste of ‘taxpayer money.’ 

‘I am so disappointed for you to hear of the ruling of the court,’ Angela Gates wrote. ‘Your flowers are beautiful and there are so many other things wrong in this world and St. Peter’s to look into then waste the time of the court and taxpayers money over flowers!!!!’  

Despite the ongoing legal challenge, Bank anticipates bringing his flowers back next year. 

‘Anyone is welcome to come see next year’s sunflowers as I will do it bigger and better with more sunflowers and different colored ones.’ 

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