Fort Worth, TX Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches
- Code section
- City Code § 11A-8
- Abatement notice
- 10 days to comply
- Enforcement
- Code Compliance Department
- Unpaid costs
- Assessed as property lien
Summary
Fort Worth City Code declares any property where weeds or grass exceed 12 inches a nuisance. Owners must cut it, including the adjacent parkway; the city abates after notice and bills the owner.
(a) Any property upon which weeds or grass exceed 12 inches in height, is hereby declared to be a nuisance. (b) A person commits an offense if the person owns, occupies or controls any real property upon which weeds or grass exceed 12 inches in height. (c) A person commits an offense if the person owns, occupies or controls any real property and fails to maintain the parkway adjacent to the property free of weeds and grass that exceed 12 inches in height.
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 11A-8, weeds or grass exceeding 12 inches in height is a declared nuisance, and it is an offense to own, occupy, or control property in that condition, or to let the adjacent parkway grow past 12 inches. The Code Compliance director issues an abatement notice under § 11A-9; if the owner does not cut within ten days of receiving notice, city crews enter and mow the property. The cost of that abatement is charged back to the owner and, under § 11A-11, assessed as a lien against the property.
Violations & Fines
Failing to cut is a Class C misdemeanor prosecuted in Fort Worth Municipal Court. After a 10-day abatement notice, Code Compliance mows the lot, bills the owner for the work, and files a lien on the property for unpaid costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass legally be in Fort Worth?
What happens if I do not mow after a notice?
Does the rule cover vacant lots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Worth
How Fort Worth compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Fort Worth to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle weed ordinances.