Ascension Parish, LA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Grass height trigger
- 24 inches in established subdivisions
- Compliance window
- 15 days after written notice
- Lien penalty
- 10% of cost or $2.00, whichever greater
- Misdemeanor fine
- $25/day from day 16, capped at $500
- Geographic scope
- Outside the parish's municipalities only
Summary
In established subdivisions of unincorporated Ascension Parish, owners must cut grass exceeding twenty-four inches and clear obnoxious weeds once the parish council requests it under Code § 11-100. Ignore a written notice from the parish president for fifteen days and the parish can mow the lot itself, lien the cost, and add the charge to the tax bill.
(b)It shall be the responsibility of all owners, or their agents, or other person in control of any lot in an established subdivision outside the municipalities of the parish to cut and remove all grass in excess of twenty-four (24) inches and all obnoxious weeds from said lots upon request to do so by the parish council. ... The failure or refusal of the owner, or his agent or other person in control, to comply with the provisions of this article shall constitute a misdemeanor, which offense shall be tried before the parish court for Ascension Parish, and the owner or his agent or other person in control shall be subject to a fine of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per day beginning on the sixteenth day after receipt of written notice as provided herein but in no event shall the maximum fine exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00).
Full Breakdown
Article V of Chapter 11, adopted September 15, 1994 and amended through 2002, governs grass and weeds on lots inside established subdivisions outside the parish's municipalities, meaning it reaches unincorporated Ascension Parish, not Gonzales, Donaldsonville, or Sorrento. Section 11-100 defines 'lot' to include land 'whether vacant or improved,' and puts the duty to cut on the owner, an agent, or anyone else in control, once the parish council requests compliance. The 24-inch trigger applies to grass; 'obnoxious weeds' carry no numeric threshold and are left to the parish's judgment.
Section 11-101 requires the parish president to mail a registered or certified letter, or personally serve notice if the letter is refused, identifying the owner from the latest parish assessment rolls. The owner then has fifteen days to cut. 00, whichever is greater, plus interest, court costs, and attorney's fees. Unpaid liens roll onto the owner's next ad valorem tax bill under Section 11-102(c), carrying the same interest and penalties as delinquent property taxes, and the sheriff collects an extra 15 percent administrative charge on any amount recovered that way.
Violations & Fines
Beyond the lien and tax-roll mechanism, Section 11-103 makes noncompliance a misdemeanor tried in Ascension Parish court, with a fine of $25.00 per day starting on the sixteenth day after the owner received written notice, capped at $500.00 total. If the six-month lien goes unpaid, Section 11-102(d) lets the parish treasurer sell the property, with the owner's redemption period cut to six months instead of the usual period for tax sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass get before Ascension Parish can act?
What happens if I ignore the parish's cutting notice?
Can I be criminally charged for tall grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ascension Parish
How Ascension Parish compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Ascension Parish to another location·View the Louisiana landscaping rules overview
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