Colonie, NY Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- Over 10 inches prohibited
- Cure period
- 7 days after notice
- Enforcer
- Building Department; Town Board
- Noncompliance
- Town mows, bills owner
- Unpaid cost
- Lien, collected as taxes
Summary
The Town of Colonie prohibits untended grasses, bushes and vegetation taller than 10 inches. The Building Department orders cutting within seven days; ignore it and town crews mow the lot, bill the owner, and file any unpaid cost as a tax lien.
BRUSH AND WEEDS — Any untended or uncultivated grasses, bushes, deleterious or unhealthful vegetation or other growing matter in excess of 10 inches in height, except trees, properly tended ornamental shrubbery, properly tended flowers or vegetables, properly tended pastureland, woodland or land under cultivation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4902401; v37 updated 2026-05-28; through 05-28-2026).
Full Breakdown
Under § 62-42, "brush and weeds" means any untended or uncultivated grasses, bushes or other growing matter over 10 inches in height: trees, tended ornamental shrubbery, flowers, vegetables, pastureland, woodland and land under cultivation are exempt. The Building Department issues a notice to remedy; § 62-46 allows seven days for lawn maintenance (grass/weed cutting), versus 14 days for other violations. Miss the deadline and the Town Board lets a mowing contract or directs town personnel to remove the growth and charges the cost to the owner. Under § 62-49 an unpaid abatement bill becomes a lien collected the same way as Town taxes.
Violations & Fines
Ignore the seven-day cutting notice and Colonie sends town personnel or a hired contractor to mow the lot; the cost is charged to the owner and, if unpaid, filed as a lien collected with Town taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds get in Colonie?
What happens if I don't mow after a notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Colonie
How Colonie compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·New York rules heatmap·Compare Colonie to another location·View the New York landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Albany County handle weed ordinances.