Kennewick, WA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches, dead or unirrigated
- Penalty
- $250 Class 1 civil infraction
- City backstop
- City may abate and bill owner
- Exempt land
- Parks, open space, farmed agricultural land
- Repeat offenses
- 3+ violations may become misdemeanor
Summary
Kennewick treats any dead, dried-out, or unirrigated grass, weeds, or vegetation over 12 inches as a legal 'Weed Hazard' and public nuisance, punishable by a $250 civil infraction under KMC 9.48.055.
Weed Hazard means grasses, weeds, or other vegetation which have grown and died or which are not irrigated and which exceed 12 inches in length. Public parks, public facility and open space zones, areas of pristine vegetation and natural habitats for indigenous wildlife and agriculturally used property are not weed hazards. ... It is unlawful for any person ... to permit a Weed Hazard to exist upon any premises over which he has control ... Any person violating this Section is guilty of a Class 1 civil infraction and shall be subject to a penalty of $250.00 plus all costs and assessments.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 19 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Kennewick's nuisance code defines a Weed Hazard as grasses, weeds, or other vegetation that has grown and died, or that is not irrigated, once it exceeds 12 inches in length (KMC 9.48.010(4)). Maintaining a Weed Hazard on property you control is a public nuisance and, under KMC 9.48.055, a Class 1 civil infraction punishable by a $250.00 penalty plus all City costs and assessments. Public parks, public facility and open space zones, areas of pristine natural habitat, and actively farmed agricultural property are excluded from the definition. The Planning Director can issue a notice and order, abate an unresolved hazard directly, and bill the owner for the cost.
Violations & Fines
A Weed Hazard violation is a Class 1 civil infraction: a $250.00 penalty plus all City costs and assessments under KMC 9.48.055; the City may also abate the hazard and bill the owner, with repeat violations referred for misdemeanor prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get before Kennewick cites me?
What's the penalty for a Kennewick weed-hazard violation?
Does the 12-inch limit apply to farmland or natural areas?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kennewick
How Kennewick compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Kennewick to another location·View the Washington landscaping rules overview
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