Howard County, MD Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Its weed rule lives inside Sec. 3.700, the Howard County Property Maintenance Code For Rental Housing, which adopts the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 edition, with local amendments. Amendment (b)(35) fills in the blank in the ICC weed section (302.4) with "12 inches," so premises covered by the code must be kept at or below that height of weeds and plant growth.

Scope decides whether the rule reaches a property. Section 101.2 limits the code to existing structures in use group I-1 (institutional), use groups R-1, R-2 and R-4, and R-3 dwellings that are not owner-occupied, not occupied by the owner's immediate family, or owner-occupied with 2 or more roomers or boarders. R-3 dwellings that are owner occupied, occupied by the owner's immediate family, or owner occupied with no more than one roomer or boarder are exempt, along with assembly, business, educational, mercantile, storage and several other occupancy groups. A rented house or apartment complex is covered. A homeowner living in a single-family house is not. Any structure with potential structural concerns must still follow the code's evaluation and correction sections whatever its classification.

Two companion landscaping rules sit beside the weed limit. Section 302.4.1 says bushes and shrubs shall not block or interfere with ingress or egress, so overgrown plantings at a door or walkway are a violation. Section 302.4.2 requires removal of dead or diseased trees and branches that, in the opinion of the code official, present a hazard to persons or property. The county also amended section 301.3 to cover vacant structures only, deleting the words "or vacant land," so the vacant-land clause of the base code is not part of Howard County's version.

The code official is the Director of the Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits or the Director's authorized designee. Under 105.3 that official can enter a dwelling unit, property or premises at reasonable times solely to inspect for compliance, and can seek a court order if entry is refused. Section 107.1 puts the duty on the owner, occupant or tenant: none of them can fail to maintain a regulated premises in violation of the code. A rental structure also cannot be occupied without the license required by Title 14, Subtitle 9 of the Howard County Code (section 101.5).