Bowie, MD Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Bowie City Code § 22-18.2, Grass and weed maintenance, makes it unlawful for anyone owning real property in the City to permit grass or weeds within the public right-of-way adjoining their property to grow taller than eight inches. Subsection B adds a separate, unqualified rule with no height threshold: it is unlawful to let grass or weeds grow onto the sidewalk, curb or street pavement abutting the property at all. Once grass or weeds exceed eight inches in the right-of-way, Subsection A requires the owner, tenant or other responsible party to trim and remove the growth within seven days of being notified by the City Manager or a designee.

The City serves that notice by posting it on the front door of the house or a sign on the property, and for a known rental property, by also mailing a copy to the owner of record by first-class mail. If the violation is not corrected within the time stated in the notice and no written objection is filed with the City within that time, the City Manager is authorized to have the growth cut at City expense, place a charge for that cost against the property, and collect it by entering the charge on the tax records as a tax on the property, or by suing for an injunction or other relief, or both.

Because Chapter 22 is one of the chapters the City Council has declared subject to municipal infractions under § 1-6C(8), an uncorrected § 22-18.2 violation can also be cited as a municipal infraction under § 22-19A, carrying the Chapter 1 default fine of $100 for a first offense and $200 for each repeat offense, with a 15-day window to seek review from the Administrative Review Board.