Detroit, MI Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed/grass limit
- 8 inches
- Brush/underbrush limit
- 1 foot
- Notice to abate
- 10 business days
- Max fine
- $500 per violation
- Enforcing agency
- General Services Department
Summary
Detroit declares weeds or grass over eight inches and brush or underbrush over one foot a public nuisance on any land, occupied or vacant. The General Services Department can order it cut and bill or lien the property if the owner doesn't act.
Any noxious weeds, any species or variety of plants designated and declared by the Director of the Health Department... to be potentially injurious to the public health pursuant to Section 16-3-111 of this Code, any other weeds of any species or variety exceeding eight inches in height, any wild growing brush or underbrush exceeding one foot in height on any land, either public or private, either occupied or vacant, within the City are declared to be a public nuisance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Detroit City Code § 16-3-113 makes any weeds over eight inches tall, or wild brush and underbrush over one foot tall, a public nuisance on any public or private land inside the city, whether occupied or vacant. Under § 16-3-114, General Services must notify the owner by certified mail to abate within ten business days; each March it may instead publish a citywide newspaper notice setting a May 1 cutoff. If the owner misses the deadline, City crews or a contractor cut or destroy the growth and the cost becomes a lien on the property, enforced like a tax lien. Violating the division is a misdemeanor under § 16-3-112, with fines up to $500 and up to 90 days in jail per offense, and each additional day counts as a separate violation.
Violations & Fines
Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine and up to 90 days in jail per violation; each day of continued growth is a separate offense; unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get in Detroit before it's a violation?
What happens if I don't cut overgrown weeds after notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Detroit
How Detroit compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Detroit to another location·View the Michigan landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Wayne County handle weed ordinances.