Orange County, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height threshold
- 18 inches
- Governing sections
- Secs. 28-31, 28-34
- Notice-to-cure period
- 15 calendar days
- 2nd violation fine
- $100
- 3rd+ violation fine
- $200
Summary
In unincorporated Orange County, grass, weeds, or brush that reaches 18 inches is legally "excessive growth," and the property's owner, agent, custodian, lessee, or occupant must cut, trim, or remove it or face escalating code enforcement fines.
Excessive growth shall mean, grass, weeds or brush that has reached a height of at least eighteen (18) inches. ... Subject to subsection (b), no owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant of property utilized or zoned for residential, professional office, commercial, or industrial use shall permit the excessive growth of grass, weeds, or brush on any exterior portion of the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).
Full Breakdown
Two sections carry the rule. Sec. 28-31 supplies the definition: excessive growth means grass, weeds, or brush that has reached a height of at least eighteen (18) inches, so the 18-inch mark is the precise legal line, not a guideline. Sec. 28-34 supplies the prohibition, and it casts a wide net over who is responsible: no owner, agent, custodian, lessee, or occupant may permit excessive growth on any exterior portion of the property. A tenant can therefore be on the hook alongside the landlord. The prohibition covers property utilized or zoned for residential, professional office, commercial, or industrial use, which sweeps in most developed land in the unincorporated county.
The code carves out mature native Florida ecological communities, which may stand taller than 18 inches unless they pose an imminent health threat, so a preserved natural area is not treated like a neglected lawn. Enforcement starts with a notice from the code enforcement division manager giving 15 days to bring the lot into compliance, and only repeat violations within a 12-month window draw fines.
Violations & Fines
The code enforcement division manager issues a notice giving 15 days to cut the lot. A second violation within 12 months draws a $100 fine, a third or later draws $200, and the county can clean the lot itself and record a special assessment lien against the property for the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass legally get in unincorporated Orange County?
What happens after a first grass-height violation?
Who is responsible for an overgrown lot?
Are natural areas exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange County
How Orange County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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