Bloomington, IN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max weed/grass height
- 8 inches
- Inspecting agencies
- Police Dept. / HAND
- First violation fine
- $50
- Third+ violation (12 mo.)
- $150
- Unremedied lots
- City can abate and bill owner
- Appeal window
- 7 days to board of public works
Summary
Bloomington Municipal Code § 6.06.050 bars any lot owner in the City of Bloomington from letting weeds, grass or noxious plants grow beyond eight inches, or grow enough to become a public health nuisance. HAND or the police department inspect and escalate fines up to $150 within a year.
It is unlawful for the owner of any lot or tract of ground within the city to allow it to become overgrown with weeds, grass, or noxious plants beyond the height of eight inches or to such extent that the growth is detrimental to the public health and constitutes a nuisance.
Full Breakdown
050, in the Garbage and Weeds chapter, makes it unlawful for the owner of any lot or tract of ground within the city to allow it to become overgrown with weeds, grass, or noxious plants beyond the height of eight inches, or to such an extent that the growth is detrimental to public health and constitutes a nuisance; the chapter's definitions section also pulls in any plant the state classifies as a detrimental, invasive or noxious weed under Indiana Code Title 15. 060 tasks the police department or HAND with inspecting lots, grounds and tracts within the corporate limits for overgrowth.
070 requires a written notice of violation naming the location, the nature of the violation, the correction period, and the fine, served in person, by mail, or posted on the property; the notice can be appealed in writing to the board of public works within seven days, or the fine itself contested in Monroe County Circuit Court. 080, after notifying the owner by certified mail and holding a hearing where the owner can present evidence.
Violations & Fines
The fine schedule in § 6.06.070(c) starts at fifty dollars for a first violation, rises to one hundred dollars for a second violation, and one hundred fifty dollars for a third or later violation, all measured within the same twelve-month period running August 1 through July 31. If the city or its contractor has to cut an overgrown lot after abatement proceedings, § 6.06.090 lets the controller bill the actual cost to the owner, and an unpaid bill after ten days gets filed with the county auditor and placed on the property's tax duplicate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass get before it violates Bloomington's ordinance?
Who inspects overgrown lots in Bloomington?
What happens if I don't mow after getting a notice of violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Bloomington
How Bloomington compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Bloomington to another location·View the Indiana landscaping rules overview
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