Concord, NC Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height trigger near dwellings
- Over 8 inches
- Required cut-back height
- 4 inches or less
- Adjoining-parcel reach
- Within 50 feet of the wall
- Notice-to-correct period
- 5 days from receipt
- Chronic violator threshold
- 3+ notices in a calendar year
Summary
Concord caps weeds and grass near any dwelling or occupied structure at 8 inches; once it grows taller, the property is a declared public nuisance and must be cut back to 4 inches or less. The rule reaches overgrowth on an adjoining parcel too, if it sits within 50 feet of the structure's wall.
Any heavy growth of weeds or grasses over eight inches in height in close proximity to any dwelling or any other occupied structure whether or not such dwelling is located on the same tax parcel; and provided that the nuisance defined by this subsection shall be cleared or cut to four inches in height or less; overgrowth shall be deemed to be in close proximity to a structure or dwelling when it is located on the same tax parcel as the dwelling or structure or when it is located on an adjoining tax parcel but is within 50 feet of the wall of the structure or dwelling.
Full Breakdown
City Code Sec. 30-161(a)(2) declares any heavy growth of weeds or grasses over eight inches in height in close proximity to a dwelling or other occupied structure to be a public nuisance, and it requires the growth be cleared or cut to four inches or less to correct the violation. The proximity trigger is defined broadly: overgrowth counts as being in close proximity whenever it sits on the same tax parcel as the dwelling or structure, or on an adjoining tax parcel but within 50 feet of the structure's wall.
A structure other than a dwelling only counts as occupied, and therefore protected by this section, if it is used for work or recreational purposes three or more times per calendar month. When the code enforcement officer confirms a violation, Sec. 30-161(b)(2) requires written notice by both first-class and registered mail giving the owner or occupant five days from receipt to correct and remove the violation. If the owner or occupant does not comply, Sec. S. 160A-193, and also against other real property the owner holds in or within a mile of the city limits, except a primary residence.
Violations & Fines
Failing to cut cited overgrowth within the five-day notice period draws a civil penalty set by the city's annual fee schedule, plus the cost of city-ordered abatement as a lien on the property. Owners cited three or more times in a calendar year become chronic violators under Sec. 30-161(b)(4), who can be re-cited and billed the same year without further notice, and face an additional per-occurrence civil penalty under the fee schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass legally get in Concord before it's a violation?
Does Concord's weed height limit apply to my neighbor's yard next to my house?
How much time do I get to mow after Concord sends a notice?
What happens if code enforcement cuts my grass for me in Concord?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Concord
How Concord compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Concord to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
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