Jackson, TN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 6 inches for weeds and grass, § 13-103
- Exempt land
- Undeveloped acreage never subdivided or built along a street
- Covered land
- Leased land and the curb-to-sidewalk parkway strip
- Cure period
- 5 days after notice to cut and clear
- Repeat violations
- No second notice needed within same calendar year
- Enforcement
- City of Jackson Environmental Court injunction
Summary
In the City of Jackson, Tennessee, Jackson Municipal Code § 13-103 makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to let weeds or grass grow past six inches (6") on property they own or control. The limit reaches leased and rented land plus the parkway strip between curb and sidewalk, but it does not apply to undeveloped acreage that has never been subdivided or built along a dedicated street.
13-103. - Weeds and grass. (1)It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to allow weeds or grass to grow to a height in excess of six inches (6") on property owned by or under the control of such person, firm or corporation within the City of Jackson. Provided, however, that this section shall not apply to undeveloped land as defined herein. ... "Undeveloped land" shall mean acreage of land neither subdivided nor developed by construction along dedicated streets. "Under the control of" shall include leased or rented land and parkways between curb and sidewalk in front of property owned or otherwise under the control of a person, firm or corporation.
Full Breakdown
Jackson Municipal Code § 13-103 bars any person, firm or corporation from letting weeds or grass exceed six inches in height on property they own or control within the city, and the definition of 'under the control of' reaches leased or rented land and the parkway strip between the curb and sidewalk in front of a property, not just the lot itself. The ordinance carves out 'undeveloped land,' defined as acreage that is neither subdivided nor developed by construction along a dedicated street, so a genuinely vacant, unplatted parcel is not held to the six-inch line; a subdivided or improved vacant lot instead falls under the overgrown-lot rule in § 13-104.
When a property first violates § 13-103, § 13-105 requires the city to post notice on the premises and serve the owner, directing removal of garbage, trash and rubbish and cutting all weeds back to six inches within five (5) days at the owner's own expense. If the owner does not comply, the City of Jackson Environmental Court can enter an injunction letting the city cut the grass and remove the debris itself, again at the owner's expense, and that one notice is deemed sufficient for the rest of the calendar year: any further violation on the same property that year can be abated by the city at the owner's cost without a second notice.
The chapter is enforced through the Environmental Court process described in Title 13, Chapter 4, so repeat mowing failures compound quickly once the first notice has been served.
Violations & Fines
A first violation of § 13-103 only draws a written notice; the owner has five (5) days to cut all weeds and grass back to six inches and clear away trash, garbage and rubbish at their own expense before the Environmental Court can issue an injunction letting the city do the work instead. Because one notice under § 13-105 covers the rest of the calendar year, a repeat violation on the same property needs no additional notice: the city can mow and bill the owner immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass legally get in Jackson, Tennessee?
What happens after the city cites me for tall grass?
Does the six-inch rule apply to my vacant lot in Jackson?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson
How Jackson compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Jackson to another location·View the Tennessee landscaping rules overview
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