Bloomington, IN Code Violation Reporting: Common Violations (2026)
Key Facts
- Grass/weed height limit
- 8 inches before it becomes a nuisance
- Enforcing agency
- HAND compliance officers and the police department
- First violation fine
- $50 flat fine per NOV
- Repeat violation fines
- $100 second offense, $150 third and later
- Appeal window
- 7 days to the board of public works
- Fine-year cycle
- runs August 1 through July 31 annually
Summary
In the City of Bloomington, the most frequently cited code violations are overgrown weeds and grass above eight inches and illegal garbage or yard-waste dumping under Bloomington Municipal Code Chapter 6.06. HAND compliance officers and police inspect lots citywide and issue a written notice of violation, with fines starting at $50 and climbing to $150 per repeat violation within a year.
It is unlawful for the owner of any lot or tract of ground within the city to allow it to become overgrown with weeds, grass, or noxious plants beyond the height of eight inches or to such extent that the growth is detrimental to the public health and constitutes a nuisance. ... (a)If the director of HAND, the assistant director, any neighborhood compliance officer, or any other designee of the director (collectively referred to as "staff") determines that there is a violation of this chapter, that person shall issue a notice of violation (NOV) to the responsible party. ... (c)Schedule of Fines. The initial penalty or fine for all violations of this chapter shall be fifty dollars. A second violation of this chapter in any twelve-month period shall be subject to a penalty or fine of one hundred dollars. A third and all subsequent violations of this chapter in any twelve-month period shall be subject to a penalty or fine of one hundred fifty dollars.
Full Breakdown
050 makes it unlawful for the owner of any lot in the City of Bloomington to let weeds, grass or noxious plants grow past eight inches, or to a point the growth is detrimental to public health and becomes a nuisance. 040). 070 any HAND director, assistant director or neighborhood compliance officer who finds a violation issues a written notice of violation (NOV) naming the property, describing the violation and stating the correction period and the fine. Fines escalate on a rolling twelve-month clock that runs each year from August 1 to July 31: $50 for a first violation, $100 for a second, and $150 for a third and every violation after that.
An owner has seven days to appeal an NOV in writing to the board of public works, and any resulting fine can also be contested in Monroe County Circuit Court. 090. 110, which also declares the condition a public nuisance.
Violations & Fines
A first Chapter 6.06 violation in Bloomington draws a $50 fine, a second in the same rolling year draws $100, and a third or later draws $150; the twelve-month clock runs August 1 to July 31. Unresolved violations can be abated by HAND or a hired contractor, with costs certified to the county auditor and added to the property's tax bill. NOVs are appealable to the board of public works within seven days or contested in Monroe County Circuit Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass or weeds get before Bloomington cites me?
What happens if I don't cut my grass after getting a notice?
Can I appeal a Bloomington code violation fine?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
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