Philadelphia County limits grass and weeds to 10 inches on all residential and commercial properties under the Property Maintenance Code. Violations trigger CLIP cleanup with costs billed to owner as a lien.
Philadelphia Code Title 4 Subcode PM Section PM-302.4 requires all premises to be maintained free of weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. Applies to lawns, vacant lots, and unimproved portions of property. Exempt: cultivated flowers, gardens, ornamental grasses, and agricultural land. Enforcement is by Licenses and Inspections and the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), which performs contracted cleanups. Property owner receives notice and 10 days to comply before city action.
Initial violation: $150 fine plus cleanup costs if city performs work. Cleanup costs typically $150-$500 billed as lien. Repeated violations: $300+ per occurrence.
See how Philadelphia County's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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