Gary, IN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 8 inches for grass and weeds
- Applies to
- entire lot plus strip to curbline
- Notice-to-comply
- 5 days (§ 18-255)
- City mowing rate
- $75.00/hr contractor, $50.00/hr city crew
- Lien trigger
- unpaid bill delinquent after 30 days
- Enforcing office
- Dept. of General Services
Summary
In the City of Gary every property owner must cut grass and weeds so they never rise above eight inches, covering the lot itself and the strip between the property line and the curb. Gary Municipal Code § 18-253 declares taller growth, plus uncollected clippings, garbage, and debris, a nuisance the city can abate.
Sec. 18-253. - Weeds, stagnant water constitute nuisance. (a)Whenever and wherever weeds shall exist, covering or partly covering the surface of any lot, parcel of lot, or parcel of real estate within the corporate limits of the city, or when any lot is filled or partly filled with holes or in such a condition that the holes are liable to hold stagnant water, cause disease, or produce, harbor, or spread disease or germs of any nature, or tend to render the surrounding atmosphere unhealthful, this shall be deemed a nuisance.(b)It shall be the duty of every owner of real estate within the city to at all times cut and mow the grass and weeds on their respective lots, and in the space between the property line and the curbline in the front, the rear and along the side, so that neither grass nor weeds shall rise above the height of eight inches. Every owner shall remove the cuttings or mowings, and all accumulations of garbage, rubbish, and other debris from the premises. The growth of grass or weeds above the height of eight inches, the accumulation of garbage and rubbish and other debris, or the nonremoval of the same from all real estate within the city is declared to be a nuisance.
Full Breakdown
Section 18-253 of the Gary Municipal Code requires every owner of real estate in the city to cut and mow grass and weeds at all times so that neither rises above eight inches, and that duty runs across the whole lot, including the front, rear, and side strips between the property line and the curbline. Owners must also remove the cuttings and mowings along with any accumulated garbage, rubbish, and debris from the premises. Section 18-253(a) separately treats weed-covered lots and lots holding standing water in a way liable to breed disease as a nuisance, and section 18-252 lists specific plants the article treats as weeds, including ragweed, thistle, poison ivy, bindweed, and marijuana (Cannabis sativa).
Enforcement runs through the director of the department of general services: under section 18-255, once a violation is reported, the director serves the owner written notice giving five days to comply. If the owner fails to cut the growth or clear the debris within that five-day window, section 18-256 lets the city do the work itself and bill the owner, using insured private contractors at $75.00 per hour or park department and general services employees at $50.00 per hour. The city can add administrative and removal costs to the bill, and an unpaid bill becomes delinquent 30 days after it issues and attaches as a lien against the property.
Violations & Fines
Letting grass or weeds exceed eight inches, or leaving garbage and debris on the lot, is declared a nuisance under section 18-253 and is a Code violation subject to the general penalty of section 1-7, up to $2,500.00 for a first offense and $7,500.00 for a repeat offense. Beyond the fine, section 18-256 lets Gary send its own crews or contractors to cut the lot after five days' notice and bill the owner $75.00 to $50.00 per hour, with unpaid bills becoming a lien on the property after 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass legally get on a Gary property?
What happens after I get a notice to cut my lot?
How much does the city charge if it has to mow my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gary
How Gary compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Gary to another location·View the Indiana landscaping rules overview
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