Waltham property maintenance ordinance requires grass and weeds to be cut below 10 inches. Overgrown lots generate nuisance violations with fines and city mowing at the owner's expense.
The Waltham Municipal Code property maintenance provisions require owners to maintain lawns and vegetated areas in a condition that does not constitute a public nuisance. Grass and weeds exceeding approximately 10 inches in height on improved residential lots are typically considered a violation. The Code Enforcement office, supported by the Health Department, responds to complaints about overgrown properties. After a written notice, owners typically have 7-14 days to abate the condition. Failure to comply allows the city to contract mowing services and place the cost as a lien on the property, plus administrative fines. Vacant lots, foreclosed properties, and absentee-owner homes are common enforcement targets. Naturalized areas, meadows, and pollinator gardens are generally permitted if maintained and not posing a rodent or fire hazard.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA
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Waltham, MA
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle grass height limits.
See how Waltham's grass height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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