New Orleans City Code Chapter 66 (Property Maintenance) requires that grass and weeds on private property be kept under 18 inches in height. Overgrowth is treated as a public nuisance because it harbors rats, mosquitoes, and snakes. The Department of Code Enforcement issues notices and may cut the lot at the owner's expense after a hearing, with the cost placed as a lien on the property.
Under New Orleans City Code Chapter 66 dealing with property maintenance and nuisance abatement, owners must keep grass, weeds, and rank vegetation under 18 inches in height on all developed and undeveloped lots. The 18-inch threshold reflects the need to control mosquito breeding habitat and to prevent overgrown lots from sheltering rats and snakes, both of which carry public health implications in this subtropical climate. Overgrown lot complaints are filed through the 311 system or the Department of Code Enforcement. After inspection, the owner receives a written notice with typically 7 to 10 days to bring the lot into compliance. If the owner does not act, the city contracts the cutting and bills the owner; unpaid bills become liens that can lead to tax sale. Vacant and blighted lots are a long-running issue in New Orleans, particularly post-Katrina, and the city has dedicated lot abatement crews. Designated wildflower meadows, native habitat plantings, and rain gardens may exceed 18 inches if registered or designed in accordance with sustainable landscaping practices, but owners should document the design to avoid nuisance citations. Servitudes and rights-of-way adjoining the property (the neutral ground strip between sidewalk and curb, locally called the neutral ground) must be maintained by the abutting property owner up to the curb.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact New Orleans code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
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See how New Orleans's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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