Lakeville, MN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 4-1-3 of the Lakeville City Code sets a single bright-line standard for every developed lot in the city: once pervasive weeds or grass reach more than eight inches (8") in length, subsection A declares the growth a public nuisance, and subsection A.1 applies that limit to any lot with a building on it, from a Downtown Lakeville storefront to a Spirit of Brandtjen Farm home lot. The rule is enforced through the abatement process in subsection C. The City first gives the owner or occupant seven (7) days' advance written notice of the violation, and if the grass or weeds are not cut in that window, the City may cut them itself and assess the cost against the property under Minnesota Statutes section 429.061.

Subsection D lets the Zoning Administrator grant additional exceptions where a property's physical characteristics make mowing prohibitive or where cutting would cause erosion, but that discretion is narrow and does not excuse ordinary lawn neglect. Because section 4-1-2 makes creating a public nuisance a misdemeanor, and the citywide general penalty in section 1-4-1 caps that offense under section 1-3-2's definition, a property owner who ignores the seven-day notice faces both the assessment on their tax bill and potential misdemeanor exposure. Lakeville's Planning and Community Development code enforcement staff handle inspections and notices for lots inside the city limits, separate from Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington, Elko New Market, or the surrounding townships, each of which enforces its own weed height rule.