Fort Lauderdale, FL Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Fort Lauderdale enforces a hard six-inch grass-height standard through its nuisance code. Section 18-3 (Definitions) of Chapter 18, Nuisances, states: 'Overgrowth means lawn, grass or weeds in excess of six (6) inches in height.' Section 18-12 (Property Clearing; nuisances specified) then makes it 'unlawful and a public nuisance for any owner or occupant of any real property, including any lot, tract or parcel of land, improved or unimproved in this city to maintain such property, including swale areas, sidewalks and waterways abutting such real property, or permit such property to be maintained in such a manner that there is any accumulation or untended growth of weeds, undergrowth or other dead or living plant life; any overgrowth of lawn, grass, weeds or foliage.' The standard reaches the abutting swale and sidewalk, not just the lawn proper. On a violation, the City's Building/Code Enforcement Director posts a notice on the property describing the nuisance and requiring it to be corrected within 10 days; if the owner fails to comply the case can go to the special magistrate and the City may abate the nuisance and assess the cost as a special-assessment lien.