Weed control in the City of Flint combines local Chapter 39 Article IV enforcement (8-inch height threshold for weeds, grass, brush, and rank, noxious, poisonous, or harmful vegetation) with Michigan's statewide Noxious Weeds Act (Act 359 of 1941, MCL 247.61-247.72). The City Clerk publishes seasonal abatement notice twice in April per Section 39-44, and the City may abate and lien recovery costs to the parcel. Pesticide application is governed by the Michigan Pesticide Control Act (Part 83 of NREPA, MCL 324.8301+).
Flint's weed-control framework runs at two levels. Locally, Section 39-43 of the Flint Code (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/flint/latest/flint_mi/0-0-0-12450) treats the growth of weeds, grass, brush, or 'other rank, noxious, poisonous or otherwise harmful vegetation' over 8 inches as a nuisance on developed parcels and within 200 feet of any structure designed for human occupancy. Section 39-44 (https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/flint/latest/flint_mi/0-0-0-12463) establishes the May-September abatement season with the City Clerk publishing notice twice each April; owners get 5 days after posted and mailed notice to abate, after which the City may abate repeatedly during the season and bill the cost as a special assessment lien against the parcel. The City's Blight Elimination unit and the Genesee County Land Bank Authority coordinate enforcement across Flint's 18,000+ vacant lots. At the state level, the Michigan Noxious Weeds Act (Act 359 of 1941, MCL 247.61-247.72, https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-Act-359-of-1941.pdf) authorizes counties and municipalities to appoint commissioners of noxious weeds and to lien recovery costs. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) maintains the state's prohibited and restricted noxious-weed lists; priority invasives in Genesee County include Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica), Phragmites (common reed), garlic mustard, and giant hogweed. Pesticide application by anyone other than a homeowner on their own property requires a Michigan Pesticide Applicator Certification under Part 83 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), MCL 324.8301 et seq., administered by MDARD (https://www.michigan.gov/mdard/plant-pest/pesticides-plant-pest-management).
Failure to abate weeds after Section 39-44 notice triggers City-performed mowing and special assessment lien recovery under MCL 247.65, with the cost collected on the property-tax roll. Cultivation, sale, or distribution of a state-listed prohibited noxious weed violates Michigan's Noxious Weeds Act and may trigger MDARD enforcement separate from local code action. Unlicensed commercial pesticide application violates Part 83 of NREPA (MCL 324.8301+) and is subject to MDARD civil penalties and license-revocation actions. Improper handling of restricted-use pesticides also violates federal FIFRA (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) and may trigger EPA enforcement.
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See how Flint's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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