Landscaping Rules in Mobile, AL

If you live in Mobile or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Mobile has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Weed Ordinances

Mobile caps grass and weeds at 10 inches on every lot in the city, and the duty to cut runs the whole way from the property line out to the curb. Owners also have to destroy poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac, and keep the strip between the street and their property line clear of junk and debris.

Key details: Height limit: 10 inches, grass and weeds. Duty covers: lot plus property-line-to-curb strip. Poison plants: must be destroyed, not just cut. Farm exemption: 5+ acres, 50-ft buffer required. Notice before abatement: 30 days certified mail.

Overgrown property is declared a public nuisance under Section 52-54 and abated by the city or a rotation-list private contractor if the owner doesn't cut it first. The owner is billed the abatement cost plus a $50 administrative charge, and Section 52-72(3) tacks on a $100 penalty for every repeat violation within a 36-month period; unpaid charges become a weed lien on the property.

Rainwater Harvesting

Mobile's Property Maintenance Code allows rainwater collection and nonpotable-reuse systems, but Section 505.5 requires every cistern, barrel or conveyance line to stay in a safe, sanitary condition. A system that leaks, stagnates or falls into disrepair must be repaired or formally abandoned under Section 505.5.1, which routes the shutoff through the International Plumbing Code's abandonment procedure rather than leaving the hardware to rot in place.

Key details: Governing section: PMC §§ 505.5, 505.5.1. Standard: system must stay safe and sanitary. Broken system: repair it or formally abandon it. Abandonment procedure: IPC § 1301.10. Enforced by: Dept. of Municipal Enforcement code official.

Under Section 109.1, it's unlawful to be in conflict with any part of the Property Maintenance Code, including Section 505.5. After a notice of violation under Section 109.2, failure to comply is a misdemeanor or civil infraction (Section 109.3), and Section 109.4 sets a fine of $250 to $500 plus court costs, with every day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. The city can also sue in equity to force repair or abandonment (Section 109.5), and any action taken becomes a lien on the property.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

In Mobile, Alabama's historic districts, when the urban forester permits removal of a heritage tree, the tree must be relocated if it costs $500 or less, or replaced under the forester's approval.

Key details: Enforcing agency: City Urban Forester. Relocation cost cap: $500. Heritage tree size: 18 in. DBH (8 in. historic). Max fine: $500 per violation. Governing chapter: Mobile City Code Ch. 65.

Removing, damaging, or mutilating a heritage tree without a permit or approved replacement is punishable under Sec. 65-11 by a fine up to $500 per violation, plus court costs, restitution, and up to three months imprisonment or community service.

Tree Trimming

Mobile property owners and tenants must keep the sidewalk fronting their property clear of tree branches and other obstructions to a height of at least 7 feet and a width of at least 4 feet.

Key details: Required height: 7 feet clear. Required width: 4 feet clear. Responsible party: Abutting owner or tenant. Status: Unlawful if unmet.

Failing to trim back tree growth encroaching on the required 7-foot height or 4-foot width clearance is an offense against the city under Sec. 57-71, and the responsibility falls on the property's occupant.

The Bottom Line

Mobile's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Mobile is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Mobile can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.