Joliet, IL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 8-338(a) declares any weeds or grass on any lot or parcel of land in the city a nuisance condition once it tops eight inches, or once it has gone or is about to go to seed, calling that a danger to the health, safety and good order of the city. Section 8-339 turns that declaration into a straight offense: any owner or occupant who permits weeds, grass, or plants other than trees, bushes, shrubs, flowers, ornamental plants, or a qualifying managed natural landscape to exceed eight inches has violated the code.

Section 8-340 gives the city the enforcement mechanism. Every owner, other than a lot the code treats as heavily wooded, must cut grass and weeds as often as needed to stay under eight inches; if they don't, the city, or a contractor it hires, cuts it for them. The same section separately bars letting hay, straw, vines, dead trees or limbs pile up where the director of inspections finds it a health, safety or fire hazard, and bars blowing or dumping grass clippings, leaves or debris onto a public street, sidewalk or parkway.

Section 8-341 lets the city recover its mowing cost as a lien on the parcel under 65 ILCS 5/11-20-15, or sue the owner directly for the expense, in addition to any other penalty under § 1-8. Section 8-342 releases the lien once the owner pays. This division was rewritten by Ord. No. 17233 in 2014 and the lien mechanism updated by Ord. No. 17785 in 2018.