The County of Hawai'i can compel clearing of weeds and 'uncultivated undergrowth' from unoccupied lots as a public nuisance under HRS 46-1.5(12). After notice, the county may clear the lot and lien the owner for the cost.
There is no statewide numeric weed limit, but the county has clear authority to act on overgrown, weedy lots. HRS 46-1.5(12) empowers each county to 'compel the clearing or removal of any public nuisance, refuse, and uncultivated undergrowth from streets, sidewalks, public places, and unoccupied lots,' and to lien the property for cleanup costs when owners fail to comply after notice. This power 'shall become fully effective within a county only upon the enactment or adoption by the county of appropriate and particular laws, ordinances, or rules defining public nuisances,' so enforcement follows the county's own nuisance provisions. Report overgrown lots to Public Works code enforcement.
Owners who ignore reasonable notice to clear weeds/undergrowth may have the county do the work and impose and enforce a lien on the property.
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See how Hawaii County's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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