Lexington County, SC Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- Grass kept evenly mowed, not uncontrolled
- Weed beds
- Predominately free of uncultivated weeds
- Debris rule
- No yard waste in road/storm drains
- Wildlife exemption
- Rear-yard certified habitat gardens only
- Applies in
- Neighborhood Appearance District parcels only
Summary
In Lexington County's Neighborhood Appearance District, residential yards, lawns, and grassed areas must stay evenly mowed and can't be left to grow uncontrolled under Zoning Ordinance Section 51.10(b). Landscaped beds have to stay predominately free of uncultivated weeds, and dumping yard debris or leaf litter into the road or storm drains is banned outright.
(b)Un-kept Yards and Landscaped Areas - Grassed areas, lawns, and yard areas are to be maintained in an evenly mowed condition and not allowed to grow uncontrolled. Landscaped areas and foundation plantings shall be properly maintained so that woody plant materials do not block ingress/egress to a residence, impair vehicle vision clearance and/or sight distance, or cause structural disrepair. Landscaped areas and foundation plantings should be clearly delineated (i.e., mulch, border, etc.) and be predominately free of uncultivated weeds or vegetation. The discarding of yard debris and leaf litter within the road or storm drain system is prohibited. Natural areas preserved and managed for habitat protection (i.e., certified garden for wildlife) are exempt from these provisions, provided such natural areas are located within the rear or backyard of the primary residential use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
10(b), one of six Residential Standards in the Neighborhood Appearance District Article, sets the county's overgrowth rule in plain maintenance terms rather than a specific inch or foot height: grassed areas, lawns, and yard areas must be kept evenly mowed and can't be allowed to grow uncontrolled. Landscaped areas and foundation plantings carry a companion standard: woody plant materials can't block a residence's ingress or egress, impair vehicle sightlines, or cause structural disrepair, and those beds must be clearly delineated, such as with mulch or a border, and kept predominately free of uncultivated weeds or vegetation.
Dumping yard debris or leaf litter into the road or the storm drain system is separately prohibited. The section carves out one exemption: natural areas managed for wildlife habitat, such as a certified wildlife garden, are excused from the mowing and weed-free standards, but only if they sit in the rear or back yard of the residence, not visible from the street. 40 exemptions.
Violations & Fines
The Zoning Administrator enforces overgrown-yard complaints under Section 174.00 with a compliance order, and there's no grandfathering for existing violations under Section 51.50. Continued noncompliance is a misdemeanor under Section 174.10, punishable up to the maximum fine and imprisonment the magistrate's court can impose, with each day the yard remains out of compliance treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a maximum grass height in Lexington County?
Can I leave part of my yard as a wildflower or wildlife garden?
Does the weed ordinance apply everywhere in Lexington County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lexington County
How Lexington County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Lexington County to another location·View the South Carolina landscaping rules overview
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