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Henry County, GA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Height trigger
Vegetation over 12 inches
Coverage trigger
More than 50% of lot
Applies to
Vacant lots, small adjacent parcels
Enforcer
Code enforcement department
County remedy
Abate and lien the property

Summary

Henry County declares grass or weeds over 12 inches tall a public nuisance on vacant lots in platted subdivisions and on small parcels next to occupied homes. The code enforcement department can order abatement, and the county may cut the lot itself and bill the owner.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Henry County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

Any grass or weeds on vacant lots in platted subdivisions or on parcels less than one (1) acre which lie adjacent to or between other one-acre or less parcels on which homes are built, whenever more than fifty (50) percent of the lot or parcel contains vegetation which exceeds twelve (12) inches in height.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 44).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 3-16-1(b)(1)e lists as a nuisance any grass or weeds on vacant lots in platted subdivisions, or on parcels of one acre or less that lie adjacent to or between other one-acre-or-less parcels on which homes are built, whenever more than 50 percent of the lot or parcel is covered in vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height. This sits within the county's broader nuisance definition in Article I of Chapter 3-16, which also reaches dead plant material that emits odors or harbors rodents, vegetation that blocks motorist sight distance, and vegetation that spreads uncontrollably onto neighboring property.

Under Sec. 3-16-2 it is unlawful to cause, permit, maintain or allow a nuisance to continue. Sec. 3-16-3 lets Henry County abate, cure or correct the nuisance at its own discretion, with the county's reasonable and necessary expenses becoming a lien against the property, filed with the clerk of superior court. The code enforcement department enforces the article under Sec. 3-16-4, and Sec. 3-16-5 makes each day the nuisance continues a new, separate offense that the magistrate court judge can sentence accordingly.

Violations & Fines

Under Sec. 3-16-6, anyone who pleads guilty, pleads nolo contendere, or is convicted of maintaining an overgrown-lot nuisance is punished as provided in O.C.G.A. 15-10-60 (the general magistrate court penalty statute) or any successor state law. Beyond a fine or jail sentence, the magistrate court judge may order community service and require the defendant to abate or cause the vegetation nuisance to be cured. Because Sec. 3-16-5 treats each continuing day as a separate offense, penalties can compound the longer the lot stays uncut.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall can grass get before Henry County calls it a nuisance?
Sec. 3-16-1(b)(1)e sets the line at 12 inches. A vacant lot in a platted subdivision, or a one-acre-or-less parcel next to other small occupied parcels, becomes a nuisance once more than half of it carries vegetation taller than that.
Can Henry County mow my lot and charge me?
Yes. Sec. 3-16-3 lets the county abate the nuisance at its discretion, and the reasonable cost of doing so becomes a lien against the property, recorded with the clerk of the superior court.
What happens if I ignore a mowing order?
Sec. 3-16-5 makes each day the overgrown condition continues a separate offense, and Sec. 3-16-6 lets the magistrate court impose a fine, jail time, or community service, plus an order to abate the nuisance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Henry County

All Henry County rules

How Henry County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Henry County to another location·View the Georgia landscaping rules overview

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