Keller, TX Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Fact
- Weeds and rank vegetation over 12 inches are a code violation
- Fact
- Noxious and invasive species encroaching on neighbors must be removed
- Fact
- 10-day notice typically precedes city abatement
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- Abatement cost plus administrative fee attaches as a lien
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- Vacant parcels and creek-corridor lots receive heightened scrutiny
Summary
Keller prohibits weeds and rank vegetation over 12 inches and requires removal of noxious and invasive species that threaten neighbors. Code Enforcement uses a 10-day notice and abatement lien process.
Sec. 342.004. MUNICIPAL POWER CONCERNING WEEDS OR CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCES. The governing body of a municipality may require the owner of real property in the municipality to keep the property free from weeds, brush, and a condition constituting a public nuisance as defined by Section 343.011(c)(1), (2), or (3). Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 580 (S.B. 837), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013. Sec. 342.005. VIOLATION OF ORDINANCE. The governing body of a municipality may punish an owner or occupant of property in the municipality who violates an ordinance adopted under this subchapter. Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Sec. 342.006. WORK OR IMPROV
Full Breakdown
Keller treats weeds as a public nuisance under the property maintenance and nuisance chapters of the city code. Any growth of weeds, rank vegetation, or grass exceeding 12 inches on improved or vacant property triggers a violation. Noxious and invasive species such as giant ragweed, johnsongrass, and poison ivy growing along fences, retaining walls, or at the base of mature trees must also be removed, particularly when they encroach on neighboring parcels or the public right-of-way. Code Enforcement identifies violations through drives, aerial imagery, and complaints.
Owners typically receive a 10-day notice of violation, after which the city can contract the work and assess cost plus administrative fee as a lien against the property at the Tarrant County recorder. Vacant parcels, undeveloped tracts along Big Bear Creek and Little Bear Creek, and lots backing to greenbelts receive heightened scrutiny during drought and summer months because of fire-load concerns. HOAs typically layer stricter aesthetic standards including specific requirements for weed control in planting beds, mulch replenishment, and lawn edging. Chemical herbicide use is not regulated separately at the city level for residential properties, though commercial applicators must hold a Texas Department of Agriculture license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I report my neighbor for weeds in Keller?
Does Keller regulate herbicide use?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Keller
How Keller compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare Keller to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Tarrant County handle weed ordinances.