Independence, MO Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 7 inches
- Noxious weeds
- Prohibited outright
- Excludes
- Cultivated flowers and gardens
- Ag buffer
- 25 ft cleared along property line
- Enforcement
- Notice, then City cuts and bills
Summary
Independence's property maintenance code caps weeds and grass at 7 inches on improved lots, bans noxious weeds outright, and lets code officers cut overgrowth and bill the property owner after notice.
Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of seven (7) inches. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 13).
Full Breakdown
Section 302.2(B)(2) of Independence's Property Maintenance Code requires premises to stay free of weeds or plant growth over 7 inches and bans noxious weeds outright, defining weeds as all grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees, shrubs, cultivated flowers, or gardens. Active agricultural use is exempted if it otherwise complies with City Code and zoning, but must still keep a 25-foot cleared buffer along property lines, except where the adjoining property is also active agriculture. After a notice of violation goes uncorrected, the City can cut the growth and bill the owner.
Violations & Fines
After a notice of violation, the City may enter the property, cut the weeds, and bill the owner for removal costs under § 109.5.1; second and later violations in the same season skip the hearing requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds get before it's a violation in Independence?
Does active farmland have to follow the 7-inch rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Independence
How Independence compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Independence to another location·View the Missouri landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jackson County handle weed ordinances.