Austin, TX Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches maximum
- Code section
- Title 10-5, Article 2
- Enforcement
- Austin Code Department
- Report via
- Austin 3-1-1
- Remedy
- City abatement, costs billed to owner
Summary
Austin caps grass and weeds at 12 inches on private property. Anything taller is an unsanitary-condition violation under City Code Title 10-5, Article 2, and the Austin Code Department can order abatement.
Grass and weeds must be kept below 12 inches. City code (City of Austin Code 10-5, Article 2) requires that grass and weeds be maintained below 12 inches.
Full Breakdown
Austin requires grass and weeds on private property to stay below 12 inches; growth above that height is treated as an unsanitary condition under City Code Title 10-5, Article 2 (Sanitary Conditions of Real Property). Complaints go through Austin 3-1-1, and the Austin Code Department inspects, issues a written notice of violation, and gives the owner time to mow. If the property is not brought into compliance, the City can abate the overgrowth and assess costs against the owner. An affirmative defense exists for a managed native or adapted landscape maintained under a plan accepted by the City.
Violations & Fines
Grass or weeds over 12 inches draw a notice of violation from the Austin Code Department; unresolved overgrowth lets the City mow the lot and bill the owner for abatement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds be in Austin?
What happens if I don't mow?
Are native or wildflower landscapes allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Austin
How Austin compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Austin to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Travis County handle weed ordinances.