Dougherty County, GA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches
- Applies to
- Subdivision lots and parcels of 5 acres or less
- Exempt land
- Green space, rights-of-way, natural undisturbed lots
- First violation
- Written warning, 7 days to comply
- Enforcer
- Dougherty County Code Enforcement Personnel
- Court
- Dougherty County Magistrate Court
Summary
Unincorporated Dougherty County declares weeds, grass or vegetation over 12 inches tall a nuisance countywide, and separately bans letting growth exceed 12 inches within 50 feet of any building. Sec. 2-14-74 covers subdivision lots and parcels of five acres or less, exempting natural, undisturbed residentially zoned land, green space and rights-of-way.
(b)General prohibitions.(1)Any weeds, grasses or plants other than trees, brushes, flowers or maintained ornamental plants growing to a height exceeding twelve (12) inches anywhere in the county are hereby declared to be a nuisance, subject to enforcement and abatement as provided in this article. ... (c)Additional limitations.(1)It shall be unlawful for the owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or other person having the possession and control of real property, or responsible for its management, maintenance or upkeep, to permit the growth and accumulation of weeds, grass or other vegetation to a height in excess of twelve (12) inches above the ground within fifty (50) feet of any building.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 2-14-74(b)(1) of the Vegetation Control Ordinance, enacted by Resolution No. " A companion rule in subsection (c)(1) separately makes it unlawful for the owner, occupant, lessee, tenant or other person having possession and control of real property to let growth exceed 12 inches within fifty feet of any building. The ordinance defines "weeds" broadly to include kudzu, poison ivy, jimson, burdock, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur, dandelion and other obnoxious or unsightly growth, but excludes garden flowers, cultivated vegetables, agricultural crops and maintained ornamental shrubbery and trees unless neglect lets them become a nuisance.
Coverage is limited under subsection (b)(3) to private property in subdivisions of record and other lots of five acres or less; county-designated green space, county or state rights-of-way, and residentially zoned land left in its natural, undisturbed state fall outside the rule. Enforcement runs through Dougherty County's Code Enforcement Personnel: a first violation draws a written warning with seven days to comply, and failure to comply, or a second violation, brings a citation for prosecution in Dougherty County Magistrate Court, with each violation treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of the 12-inch rule gets a written warning and seven days to mow. Missing that deadline, or a second violation, brings a citation prosecuted in Dougherty County Magistrate Court, with penalties capped at the maximum set by O.C.G.A. § 15-10-60 and each day or instance charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds be on a lot in unincorporated Dougherty County?
Does the 12-inch rule apply to every property?
What happens the first time I get cited for tall weeds?
Are kudzu and poison ivy covered by the height rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dougherty County
How Dougherty County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Dougherty County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.