Jefferson Parish, LA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- JPCO Sec. 19-18
- Height limit
- 8 inches within 150 feet of a building
- Also covers
- Uncontrolled gardens and landscaping
- Misdemeanor penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
- Contempt penalty
- $100-$500 fine or 24 hrs-30 days jail
Summary
Jefferson Parish caps grass and weeds at eight inches within 150 feet of any building on a lot. Sec. 19-18 declares taller growth, plus any other deleterious or unhealthful vegetation, a nuisance, and it also reaches uncontrolled or unmaintained flowerbeds, gardens and landscaping, not just an unmowed lawn.
It shall be unlawful for any person or proprietary party to maintain, permit or allow on any premises, within one hundred fifty (150) feet of an existing building, the growth of grass or weeds, other than trees, shrubs, cultivated flowers, gardens, and any vegetation that is part of an approved stormwater management plan, to exceed a height of eight (8) inches or more, or to permit or allow on the premises the growth of any other deleterious or unhealthful vegetation; and, the same is hereby declared to be a nuisance. It shall be a violation if any growth of flowers, gardens or landscaping is uncontrolled or not regularly maintained.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " Sec. 19-16 folds the same article's ban on trash, debris, junk and abandoned property into the nuisance declaration, and Sec. 19-17 exempts a vehicle, appliance or piece of machinery that is in good operating condition, properly tagged, and either enclosed, within the structure's roofline, or not visible from any public place or surrounding property, plus licensed junk yards and certain non-residential business uses. Under Sec. 19-19, any violation is a misdemeanor punished under Sec. 1-10, and beyond that criminal penalty the parish, an adjacent or damaged neighbor, or any ten residents of the same election precinct may petition for an injunction or an order of abatement.
Sec. 00, or twenty-four hours to thirty days in the parish prison, or both, with a second contempt drawing both fine and imprisonment without benefit of probation or suspended sentence.
Violations & Fines
A first Sec. 19-18 violation is a misdemeanor under Sec. 1-10, carrying a fine up to $1,000.00 or up to six months' imprisonment, with each day the growth continues a separate offense. If the parish, a neighbor, or ten residents of the precinct get an injunction or abatement order and it is violated, that is contempt of court, fined $100.00 to $500.00 or jailed twenty-four hours to thirty days, doubled to both on a second contempt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get on a Jefferson Parish property before it's a violation?
Does an overgrown flowerbed count as a violation, or just uncut grass?
Who can force a Jefferson Parish property owner to cut overgrown vegetation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson Parish
How Jefferson Parish compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Jefferson Parish to another location·View the Louisiana landscaping rules overview
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