El Paso, TX Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches average
- Governing section
- City Code § 9.04.860
- Enforcement agency
- Code Enforcement Bureau
- Cure period
- 7 calendar days
- Unpaid cost
- Lien, 10% yearly interest
Summary
El Paso City Code caps weeds and vegetation at an average height of twelve inches on lots under three acres. Anything taller is declared a public nuisance, and the city's Code Enforcement Bureau can mow it and lien the property for the cost.
Owners shall maintain properties as to prevent the growth of weeds and vegetation... under the following conditions: 1. Any individual lot or tract of land smaller than three acres upon which weeds and vegetation exceed an average height greater than twelve inches... B. Any accumulation or growth of such weeds and vegetation... is deemed to be deleterious to the public health, comfort and welfare and is declared to be a public nuisance, the prompt abatement of which is a public necessity.
Full Breakdown
Under El Paso City Code Section 9.04.860, owners must keep weeds and vegetation from exceeding an average height of twelve inches on any lot smaller than three acres, plus abutting parkways and alleys. On lots three acres or larger the same twelve-inch limit applies within one hundred fifty feet of the curb or any property line. Regularly cultivated ornamentals, native desert vegetation, and ag-exempt crops are excepted under Section 9.04.870. Once the Code Enforcement director declares a nuisance, the owner has seven calendar days to cut it back or the city abates the growth itself under Section 9.04.880.
Violations & Fines
After a seven-day notice, the city mows the property and bills the owner for labor, equipment, and administrative costs. Unpaid charges become a lien accruing ten percent yearly interest and are added to the property's tax bill until paid in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get in El Paso?
What happens if I do not cut my weeds?
Does the rule cover desert plants and cactus?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso
How El Paso compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare El Paso to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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