Jonesboro, AR Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches for weeds/grass/plant growth
- Large-tract threshold
- 5+ acres, not a subdivision
- Buffer cut width
- 150 feet around the tract perimeter
- Commercial exception
- C-1 through C-4 and CR-1 lose buffer exemption
- Notice before city cuts
- 7 days' written notice
Summary
Jonesboro caps weeds and grass on improved property at 12 inches tall. Large rural tracts get a buffer-cut exception, but that exception does not apply to commercial-zoned land, and repeat violators lose the right to fresh notice before being fined.
It shall be unlawful for an owner or occupant of real property to fail to cut weeds and grass and plant growth as defined in this chapter. The owner or occupant of said property shall not allow weeds or plant growth over 12 inches in height. Exception: large tracts of land. Buffer cut areas shall be allowed to be cut around any large tract of land that is not a subdivision provided, however, that if the tract of land is shown to be a danger to the public peace, health and safety, the entire tract will be cut.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 16).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 30-5(b) of the Jonesboro Code of Ordinances makes it unlawful for a property owner or occupant to fail to cut weeds, grass, and plant growth, and specifically bars allowing weeds or plant growth to exceed 12 inches in height. Sec. 30-1 defines "weeds" broadly as any vegetation that, due to natural condition or lack of maintenance, creates an unsightly condition, excluding trees, shrubs, and cultivated flowers or gardens. Large tracts of land, defined as five acres or more that are not a subdivision, get a partial exception: Sec.
30-5(b) allows a 150-foot "buffer cut area" around the perimeter rather than mowing the whole tract, unless the tract is shown to endanger public peace, health, or safety, in which case the entire tract must be cut. Land actively cultivated for growing crops is fully exempt for the cultivated area only. Sec. 30-5(c) strips the large-tract buffer exception from any large tract zoned C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, or CR-1, meaning commercial-zoned acreage must be fully maintained regardless of size. Enforcement runs through Sec. § 14-54-903 et seq.
Sec. 30-7(c) presumes an owner has notice of a repeat overgrowth violation if the same owner received a violation notice for the same condition earlier in the same calendar year, letting the city skip straight to correction and lien on repeat offenses. The code enforcement officer may also assess an administrative fee under Sec. 30-6 to cover the cost of administering the cleanup, separate from the actual labor cost and any court fine.
Violations & Fines
Letting weeds or grass exceed 12 inches violates Sec. 30-5(b) and is enforceable under the general penalties in Sec. 1-7, per Sec. 30-10. After seven days' notice under Sec. 30-7(a), the city may cut the property itself, charge the actual cost plus an administrative fee under Sec. 30-6, and file a lien under A.C.A. § 14-54-903 et seq. that can be enforced by circuit court foreclosure within ten years or added to the county tax rolls with a ten percent collection penalty. A second violation of the same condition within the same calendar year carries a presumption of notice under Sec. 30-7(c), skipping the fresh notice period.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds legally get in Jonesboro?
Do large rural lots have to mow the entire property?
Does the large-tract exception apply to commercial land?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jonesboro
How Jonesboro compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Jonesboro to another location·View the Arkansas landscaping rules overview
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