Flagler County, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max weed/brush height
- 20 inches before it is a nuisance
- Excluded from limit
- Trees, shrubs, saw palmettos
- Applies to
- Developed lots in unincorporated Flagler County
- Cure period
- 30 days after written notice
- Enforcement
- County administrator, then lien if unpaid
Summary
Flagler County's lot maintenance ordinance defines nuisance weeds as grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth left uncontrolled and growing past twenty inches tall, and declares that height a nuisance on any developed lot in unincorporated Flagler County. Trees, shrubs and saw palmettos are specifically excluded from the height limit.
Nuisance weeds means grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth, specifically excluding trees, shrubs and saw palmettos, which are allowed to grow in an uncontrolled manner or not cared for or regularly maintained and which reach a height in excess of twenty (20) inches. ... (1)Nuisance weeds, excluding trees, shrubs and saw palmetto, in excess of twenty (20) inches in height which impair the economic welfare of property, contribute to a fire hazard, or create a health hazard, when any part of the growths are located on any developed lot.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 22-27 of the Flagler County Code defines nuisance weeds as grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth, specifically excluding trees, shrubs and saw palmettos, which are allowed to grow in an uncontrolled manner or not cared for or regularly maintained and which reach a height in excess of twenty inches. Sec. 22-31(1) then declares those nuisance weeds a nuisance whenever they exceed twenty inches on a developed lot and impair the economic welfare of property, contribute to a fire hazard, or create a health hazard. The twenty-inch threshold applies only within the unincorporated area of the county; the same exemptions that apply to the broader lot-maintenance ordinance also apply here, so agricultural land, AC-zoned property, coastal dunes and lots in an undisturbed natural state under Sec.
22-29 are not subject to the height limit even if weeds there grow taller than twenty inches. Once a violation is confirmed, Sec. 22-51 requires the overgrown lot to be brought into compliance in its entirety, not merely cut back below the line in scattered spots, and the county's enforcement official, the county administrator under Sec. 22-27, must give the owner written notice specifying the corrective action and a 30-day period to cut the growth before the county may enter the property and abate it directly.
Violations & Fines
An owner who does not cut nuisance weeds below twenty inches within 30 days of the enforcement official's written notice under Sec. 22-52 is subject to county abatement of the entire lot at the owner's expense under Sec. 22-54, with the abatement cost plus an administrative fee assessed as a special lien against the property, accruing interest at 12 percent annually starting 30 days after the lien notice is mailed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds legally grow in unincorporated Flagler County?
Are trees and palmettos counted toward the twenty-inch weed limit?
What must I do once the county issues a weed-height notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flagler County
How Flagler County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Flagler County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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