Escambia County, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

County Code § 42-196(d) declares overgrowth on residentially or commercially classified land a nuisance condition, with three narrow exceptions: land classified agricultural, undeveloped/uncleared land in its natural vegetative state, and land an owner is actively restoring to a natural state. That restoration exception only applies if the parcel is one acre or larger, sits outside any platted or unplatted residential subdivision, and the owner has recorded a good-faith affidavit of intent with the clerk of the circuit court; development can't begin until the overgrowth is cleared.

The article (§§ 42-191 through 42-198) is titled the 'County Nuisance Abatement Ordinance,' applies only in unincorporated Escambia County (§ 42-193), and exempts government-owned property and public rights-of-way (§ 42-194). An owner is liable once a nuisance condition, including overgrowth, has existed on the property for at least 48 hours, regardless of who caused it (§ 42-196(e)). The remedy for overgrowth is 'removal of all nuisance conditions' (§ 42-197(c)), and enforcement follows the same summary abatement procedure used for other nuisances under § 42-164: a written demand by certified mail plus a ten-day placard posting, ten days (three for repeat violations) to comply or request a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners, and if the county clears the lot itself, a lien for the actual abatement cost plus administrative costs, bearing six percent annual interest starting 30 days after recording.