Columbus, GA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 18 inches
- First offense fine
- $500 minimum
- Repeat offense fine
- $1,000 minimum
- Notice period
- 10 days to correct
- Exemption
- beyond 100 feet from a building
Summary
Columbus, Georgia bans weeds or grass over 18 inches tall on any occupied or unoccupied lot in the consolidated city-county, with code enforcement issuing a ten-day correction notice before fines start.
It shall be unlawful for the occupant of any occupied lot of land in the city, or the owner of any unoccupied lot in the city, or for any agent or representative of any such occupant or owner, to permit or maintain on such lot any growth of weeds or grass to a height of over 18 inches. The provisions hereof shall not be applicable to that part of any lot of land located more than 100 feet from any building.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Columbus, Georgia's code makes it unlawful for the occupant of an occupied lot, or the owner of an unoccupied one, to let weeds or grass exceed 18 inches, anywhere in the consolidated city-county government except the part of a lot more than 100 feet from a building. The director of inspections and code enforcement must give ten days' written notice before citing a violation, and no further warning is required for 36 months. A violator faces a minimum $500 fine for a first offense and $1,000 for each repeat offense at the same property; the city can also cut the growth itself and lien the lot for the cost.
Violations & Fines
Minimum $500 fine for a first offense, minimum $1,000 for each repeat offense at the same property, plus the cost of city-performed cutting secured as a lien against the lot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply outside Columbus's old city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbus
How Columbus compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Columbus to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
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