Weed control falls under NYC Admin Code 16-118 (lot cleanliness) and DEC invasive-species rules 6 NYCRR Part 575. Owners must keep yards clear of rank weeds; sale or planting of DEC-listed invasives is prohibited statewide.
NYC Administrative Code §16-118 requires every property owner to keep lots, sidewalks, and gutters free of rank weeds, garbage, and debris. DSNY issues Notices of Violation for overgrown lots; fines start at $100 for the first offense and escalate with each repeat. Vacant-lot vegetation over 10 inches can trigger DSNY Bureau of Waste Prevention enforcement. Under 6 NYCRR Part 575 (Prohibited and Regulated Invasive Species, effective 2015), 126 species including Japanese knotweed, tree of heaven, Norway maple, and mugwort cannot be sold, propagated, or knowingly introduced in New York; 'regulated' species may be sold with label notice. The NY State DEC enforces invasives rules, while HPD handles housing-maintenance-related weed issues for residential buildings. The Bronx River Alliance and NYC Parks manage invasive removal in riparian corridors. Community gardens on GreenThumb-licensed city land have additional weed and ragweed-abatement duties.
First weed/litter notice under §16-118: $100 fine, 30 days to cure. Second offense within 12 months: $200. Third and beyond: $300-$500 per occurrence. Selling or planting Part 575-prohibited invasives: DEC civil penalty up to $250 per violation and up to $500 per day of continued violation. Commercial landscapers face additional DEC pesticide-applicator license consequences.
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