The Property Maintenance Code of New York State, which the Town of Islip enforces and mirrors in Town Code Chapter 6A, requires developed areas of a premises used by occupants or the public to be kept free from weeds (including grasses) over 10 inches (254 mm) tall. Noxious weeds are prohibited outright.
Islip does not set its own numeric grass-height limit in isolation; the operative standard is Section 302.4 (Weeds) of the Property Maintenance Code of New York State (2020), which the Town of Islip Division of Code Enforcement applies and which is restated in Town Code Chapter 6A (Property Maintenance), Article IV, Section 6A-20 (Minimum maintenance standards for residential properties). The state code caps weeds, which the Town's local restatement defines to include all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees and shrubs, at 10 inches (254 mm) on developed areas intended to be used by building occupants or the public, with an exception for cultivated flowers and gardens. Because lawns are 'grasses,' an unmowed lawn exceeding 10 inches is a violation. Enforcement falls to the Town of Islip Division of Code Enforcement, which investigates property-maintenance complaints on residential lots and vacant parcels.
A property kept out of compliance with the weed/grass standard is a violation of Town Code Chapter 6A, punishable as set forth in Town Code Section 6A-21 (penalties), which can include fines and, for unabated conditions, Town-ordered cleanup with costs charged to the owner.
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