Colonie, NY Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Colonie's high-grass and weed standard is set out in the Property Maintenance article of Chapter 62 (Building Construction Administration), Article IV, of the Code of the Town of Colonie (https://ecode360.com/15257077). The Code requires that front, side, and rear yards be maintained by persons, owners, and/or occupants of dwelling units to Town Code standards, including watering, mowing, removal of grass cuttings, removal of trimmings, and leaf removal. All land must be kept free of dead or dying trees and accumulations of brush, shrubs, weeds, grass, stumps, roots, and excessive or noxious growth, garbage, grass cuttings, trimmings, refuse, or debris that would tend to start a fire, cause poisoning or irritation to people or animals, or cause an unsightly or unhealthy condition. Weeds are defined as 'any untended or uncultivated grasses, bushes, deleterious or unhealthful vegetation or other growing matter in excess of 10 inches in height,' with express exceptions for trees, properly tended ornamental shrubbery, properly tended flowers or vegetables, properly tended pastureland, woodland or land under cultivation. The Building Department Manager (or designee) may declare a property in violation and serve notice requiring the owner to remove the violation within seven days; if the owner fails to comply, the Building Department may remedy the violation and assess the cost to the owner. The Property Maintenance article is enforced under the general enforcement provisions of the Town Code and Town Law §64. Albany County does not impose a separate height standard; the Town's 10-inch rule controls.