Arlington Heights, IL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Vacant land limit
- 12 inches (§19-201a)
- Occupied lot limit
- 8 inches (§19-201a)
- Coverage
- Extends to parkway/alley strip (§19-209)
- Notice before abatement
- 7 days after mailing/posting
- Village mowing fee
- $50.00 plus costs (§19-208)
- General penalty
- $5-$750 per offense (§19-701b)
Summary
Arlington Heights, Illinois caps weed and grass height at 12 inches on vacant land and eight inches on occupied lots under Section 19-201(a) of the Cook County village's nuisance code. Section 19-209 makes it unlawful for any owner or occupant to let growth exceed those limits anywhere on the lot, including the parkway strip out to the curb.
Section 19-201 - Definitions. a.Improper Growth of Weeds or Grasses. All weeds or grasses on vacant land over 12 inches in height from the ground and all weeds or grasses on occupied lots over eight inches in height from the ground. ... Section 19-209 - Growth or Accumulation-Lots. It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee or occupant, or his or her agent, servant, representative or employee, having charge or control of any lot within the Village of Arlington Heights, to permit or maintain on any lot, including the area located between the property line and the middle of the alley adjacent to the property, and the area located between the property line and the curb, and the area located ten feet outside the property line where there is no curb, any improper growth of weeds or grasses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 3 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
" Section 19-203(h) folds that definition into the Village's general nuisance list, naming "any improper growth of weeds as set forth in Section 19-209" as a declared nuisance. " Enforcement runs through the Article II abatement procedure: Section 19-201(d) requires "Proper Notification" by personal service, messenger, or certified mail before the Village can act, and Section 19-208 bars abatement until seven days after that notice is mailed and the property posted. 00 plus costs" against the property owner, on top of whatever penalty applies to the underlying violation.
Violations & Fines
An owner who lets weeds or grass exceed the 12-inch (vacant) or eight-inch (occupied) threshold faces the Chapter 19 general penalty in Section 19-701(b), a fine of $5.00 to $750.00 per offense with each continuing day treated separately, plus a flat $50.00-plus-costs charge under Section 19-208 if the Village has to send its own crew to cut the lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass legally be in Arlington Heights?
Does the weed ordinance cover the parkway strip by the street?
What happens if the Village has to mow my lot for me?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arlington Heights
How Arlington Heights compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Arlington Heights to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle weed ordinances.