Erie, PA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Erie has adopted the International Property Maintenance Code (currently the 2021 ICC codes) with a local amendment to Section 302.4 governing weeds and grass. The City's own Code Enforcement property-maintenance guidance states premises must be free from weeds or plant growth above 10 inches. Enforcement runs through the Bureau of Code Enforcement (626 State Street, Room 407): a complaint is filed, an officer inspects, and the owner receives a Notice of Violation with an order to correct within a set number of days. If uncorrected, the property may receive a Quality of Life ticket and ultimately a summary citation before the Magisterial District Judge. Separately, Article 727 of the Codified Ordinances requires the abutting owner, tenant, or occupant to keep the curb-line area (lawns, sidewalks, and shade-tree strip between the property line and the roadway) clear of all weeds and bushes, whether growing or cut.