Birmingham, AL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- City Code Section
- Birmingham Code § 11-8-8(c)
- City height limit
- Over 10 inches prohibited
- State Code Section
- Code of Ala. 1975, § 11-67-60
- City Division
- Environmental Code Enforcement (PEP)
- Report Violations
- Dial 311 / Birmingham 311 App
Summary
Birmingham Code section 11-8-8(c) makes it unlawful to let weeds, shrubs, grass or other vegetable growth on an uncultivated lot exceed ten inches, and Alabama Code section 11-67-60 lets any municipality declare overgrown grass or weeds a public nuisance and abate it. The city's Environmental Code Enforcement Division enforces both through Birmingham's Environmental Court.
Environmental Code Enforcement is responsible for inoperable and/or derelict vehicles through the use of Environmental Police Officers. Also, overgrown vegetation of grass and weeds in the front and rear yard of residential/dwelling and commercial properties. Junk, auto parts, furniture, trash, tires, building materials, tree trimmings and any other debris cannot be left in the yard and must be disposed of properly.
Full Breakdown
' The state-law foundation is Code of Ala. 1975, section 11-67-60 (Article 4, Abatement of Weeds in Any Municipality), letting the municipal governing body declare overgrown grass or weeds a public nuisance and abate it. overgrown vegetation of grass and weeds in the front and rear yard of residential/dwelling and commercial properties' and directs owners to keep their property 'clear of weeds, trash and debris' from the centerline of the street to the middle of the alley. After a 311 complaint and inspection, uncorrected lots are declared a nuisance, abated by a third-party contractor, and the cost assessed against the property under Code of Ala. 1975, sections 11-47-140 and 45-37A-53.
Violations & Fines
Under Birmingham Code section 11-8-8(e), minimum fines are $100 (first offense), $250 (second offense), and $500 (third offense within 12 months) plus court costs, with each day a separate offense; uncut lots are abated by contractor and the cost assessed as a lien against the property. Charged owners are summoned to Environmental Court, held Wednesdays at 9 a.m. in Birmingham Municipal Court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds get in Birmingham before it's a violation?
What happens if I don't cut my overgrown lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Birmingham
How Birmingham compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Birmingham to another location·View the Alabama landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle weed ordinances.