Fort Myers, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height allowed
- 12 inches
- First abatement fee
- $50.00
- Repeat-offense fee
- $150.00
- Notice before city mows
- 10 days
- Large-lot rule
- 100-ft perimeter strip only
Summary
Fort Myers requires owners and occupants to cut weeds, grass, and underbrush to no more than 12 inches, or the city cuts it and bills a $50 abatement fee.
All owners, agents, custodians, lessees and occupants of real property within the city shall, in accordance with the notice set forth in section 54-118, cut and keep cut, to a height of not exceeding 12 inches, all wild growth on any property owned, controlled or occupied by them within the city and shall remove any junk, trash, garbage, filth, abandoned automobiles and appliances, or other noxious matter located upon such property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
The city defines "wild growth" as weeds, grass or underbrush over 12 inches tall (§ 54-116) and requires every owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant of city property to keep it cut to 12 inches or less, alongside removing junk, trash, garbage, filth, and abandoned automobiles or appliances (§ 54-119). Owners of parcels over five contiguous acres only have to maintain a 100-foot perimeter strip along streets, easements or occupied neighboring property. Twice a year the city council publishes a newspaper notice restating the 12-inch cutting duty (§ 54-118). If a property isn't abated within 10 days of a code enforcement notice, the city mows it and assesses the actual cost plus a $50 administrative fee ($150 for a repeat offense within 24 months) as a lien against the property (§ 54-119(c)).
Violations & Fines
Non-abatement triggers city mowing plus a $50 fee ($150 if repeated within 24 months), recorded as a property lien; repeated noncompliance also draws a code enforcement citation as a civil infraction under § 2-442, capped at $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get in Fort Myers before it's a violation?
What happens if I don't cut it myself?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
How Fort Myers compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle weed ordinances.