Palm Beach County, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Developed lot limit
- 7 inches on lots ≤0.5 acre
- Vacant lot limit
- 18 inches on lots ≤0.5 acre
- Larger lots
- 25-ft buffer strip enforced only
- Noxious weeds
- Prohibited outright, no exceptions
- Exemptions
- Cultivated flowers, gardens, native vegetation
Summary
Unincorporated Palm Beach County caps grass and weeds at 7 inches on developed lots and 18 inches on vacant lots, and bans all noxious weeds outright under the county's Property Maintenance Code.
(c)Excessive growth of grass, weeds and low-growing vegetation.(1)Grass, weeds and low-growing vegetation shall be maintained as follows: ... Developed or Partially Developed—Residential and Non-Residential | One-half acre or less | 7 inches on the entire lot. ... (3)All noxious weeds are prohibited. Noxious weeds shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens or native vegetation.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 14, Article I of the county's Property Maintenance Code (Sec. 14-32(c)) sets maximum vegetation heights for unincorporated Palm Beach County. Developed lots of a half-acre or less must keep grass and weeds under 7 inches; larger developed lots only need that height held on a 25-foot strip along any side bordering a developed lot. Vacant lots follow the same pattern at an 18-inch cap. Separately, subsection (c)(3) bans all noxious weeds outright, though cultivated flowers, gardens, and native vegetation are exempt. This chapter governs unincorporated areas only. West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and Jupiter enforce their own municipal codes, not this one.
Violations & Fines
Code Enforcement Division inspectors issue a notice of violation; uncorrected mowing or noxious-weed violations go before the county's Code Enforcement Board, which can impose daily fines that attach as a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
How tall can weeds get before it's a violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
How Palm Beach County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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