Chesapeake, VA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- Average 10 inches
- Small-lot rule
- Applies to entire lot ≤1 acre
- Large-lot rule
- Within 150 ft of home/road
- Notice period
- 10 days to remedy
- First penalty
- $50 civil fine
- Annual cap
- $3,000 ($6,000 commercial)
Summary
Chesapeake caps grass and weed growth at an average height of ten inches on lots one acre or smaller, and within 150 feet of any dwelling or road on larger tracts. Ignore a notice from the city manager and civil penalties start at $50 and climb from there.
(a)The city council finds that the accumulation in this city of weeds and debris and the growth of grass and similar vegetation beyond a certain height in specified areas of the city constitute a danger to the health and safety of the residents of the city and that such conditions shall be remedied as provided for in this section.(b)It shall be the duty of the owner or such other person who is in control of any land in the city to:(1)Remove all weeds and debris from such property;(2)Cut all grass or similar vegetation found on any such property one acre or less in size when the average height of such grass or vegetation exceeds ten inches; and(3)Cut all grass or similar vegetation found on any such property greater than one acre in size and located within 150 feet of any dwelling or structure and any road or thoroughfare when the average height of such grass or similar vegetation exceeds ten inches.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 62-2 lets the city manager or an authorized agent order any owner or person in control of land to remove weeds and debris and cut grass or similar vegetation once it averages more than ten inches. On property one acre or less, the ten-inch cap applies to the whole lot; on larger tracts it applies within 150 feet of any dwelling, structure, road or thoroughfare. A violation triggers written notice citing the condition and giving ten days to remedy it, and one notice per growing season (March 1 through November 30) is deemed reasonable notice for the entire season.
If the owner does not comply, the city may cut the vegetation itself or contract the work and bill the responsible person, including a lien on the property if unpaid. The requirement does not apply to land zoned for or actively farmed, land used for agriculture, gardening or productive forestry regardless of zoning, woodlands and wetlands regardless of zoning, or drainage ditches within a public easement that the property owner has certified with the department of public works as aiding drainage or erosion control. A property owner must affirmatively claim and document any exemption after receiving a notice or it is deemed waived.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply with a notice carries a civil penalty of $50 for the first violation and $200 for each violation under a notice issued within 12 months of the first, with every business day the condition persists counting as a separate offense. Total civil penalties from one set of facts are capped at $3,000 in 12 months for most property and $6,000 for industrial or commercial zoned or used property (Sec. 62-2(e)).
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I let my grass grow in Chesapeake before it's a violation?
Is farmland exempt from Chesapeake's weed ordinance?
What happens if I ignore a Chesapeake mowing notice?
How often will Chesapeake send me a mowing notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chesapeake
How Chesapeake compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Chesapeake to another location·View the Virginia landscaping rules overview
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