Boca Raton, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 10-26 defines 'untended vegetation' as grass, weeds or underbrush that exceeds 8 inches in height from the ground, plus dead trees, hedges, or dense growth of trees, vines or other vegetation that creates a fire hazard, breeds mosquitoes, sandflies, rodents, snakes or other pests, blocks the sightlines of motorists, bicyclists or pedestrians, or hurts the appearance of the property and its neighbors. Section 10-27(2) makes it a violation for any owner or tenant to let untended vegetation stand on land they own, lease or possess, and the duty extends into the adjoining public right-of-way, from the front plot line to the centerline of the right-of-way and between the extensions of the side plot lines.

Section 10-27(4) declares untended vegetation, along with litter and stagnant water covered by the same section, a public nuisance. Once a violation is found, section 10-29 requires the city to send the record owner a single certified-mail notice describing the violation, ordering it corrected within 7 days of receipt, and warning that missing the deadline lets the city abate the overgrowth itself and lien the property for the cost plus administrative charges; the owner has 7 days from receipt to request a hearing under section 10-30 before a special magistrate, who can also authorize immediate abatement if the overgrowth is an imminent danger.