Fort Smith, AR Landscaping Rules: Grass Height Limits (2026)

Fort Smith's high-grass and weed standard sits in Chapter 16 (Nuisances) of the Fort Smith Municipal Code, accessible through Municode at https://library.municode.com/ar/fort_smith and applied through the Neighborhood Services division. The City requires that all grasses and weeds on residential and commercial lots, including alleys, utility easements, drainage easements, walking easements, and unopened street rights-of-way adjoining the property, be maintained at ten (10) inches or less in height. Railroad companies operating within the City are held to the same 10-inch standard on their rights-of-way. The legal foundation for this scheme is Arkansas Code §14-54-901 et seq., which empowers municipalities to order owners of lots within their boundaries to cut weeds, remove garbage and rubbish, eliminate stagnant pools, and otherwise correct unsightly or unsanitary conditions, with seven days' written notice. After inspection by Neighborhood Services or another designated officer, the City Administrator may order the owner or occupant to cut weeds, grass, and dead or dying trees; if the condition is not abated within seven days, the City may initiate prosecution and contract for mowing, with the cost collected as a lien against the property. Fort Smith is in Sebastian County and Crawford County, with the bulk of the city in Sebastian County.