Bethlehem caps grass and noxious-weed growth at one (1) foot under Article 1161.07(b) of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem (https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/CityOfBethlehem/media/Ordinance-PDFs/ARTICLE1161.pdf). The limit applies on any lot within the corporate limits when weeds are within 200 feet of any building or public right-of-way. Article 1161 defines 'Noxious Weeds' as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation, excluding cultivated flowers, gardens, trees, and shrubs.
Bethlehem's grass-and-weed-height standard is set by Article 1161 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem (Health Nuisances), section 1161.07 (Noxious Weeds Defined; Height Restrictions; Removal), enacted by Ord. 3130 (7/21/1987), amended by Ord. 4045 (11/21/2000) and Ord. 2017-14 (4/18/2017). Subsection (b) provides that 'no person owning or holding real estate shall allow or maintain on any lot within the corporate limits any growth of noxious weeds to a height over one (1) foot if such weeds are within two hundred (200) feet of any buildings or any public right of way.' Subsection (a) defines noxious weeds as 'all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs,' expressly excluding cultivated flowers and gardens, so a maintained ornamental or pollinator planting is distinguished from rank growth. Weeds cut on properties in violation must be removed from the property at the time of cutting. The Bureau of Health within the City Health Bureau enforces Article 1161. Bethlehem is a Third Class City under Pennsylvania's Third Class City Code (53 P.S. §35101 et seq.) and is split between Lehigh County and Northampton County.
Article 1161.09 authorizes the Bureau of Health to engage labor and materials necessary to abate after notice and add a twenty percent (20%) penalty, then certify the cost to the City Solicitor for entry as a lien in the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton or Lehigh County, collected as a municipal claim. Article 1161.99 sets escalating fines: $100 first violation, $250 second, $500 third, and $1,000 fourth-and-subsequent, each with up to 30-90 days imprisonment.
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