Lansing, MI Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- Under 8 inches
- Governing section
- § 1460.01(w), amending IPMC § 302.4
- Correction window
- 7 days, § 1460.01(k)(1)
- Enforcement
- Office of Code Compliance
Summary
Lansing property owners must keep grass under eight inches and premises free of weeds under the City's adopted Property Maintenance Code, with violations treated as a codified nuisance subject to a shortened correction notice.
The first paragraph of Section 302.4 is replaced with the following: All premises shall be maintained free of weeds and of grass eight inches or more in height.(x)The text of Section 302.8 is replaced with the following: No motor vehicle that is inoperative, stripped, dismantled, or in a state of major disassembly or disrepair may be kept on any exterior premises. Motor vehicles may be removed from private property in accordance with the towing regulations established by the State as the "special anti-theft laws" sections of Division II of the Michigan Vehicle Code, MCL 257.252—MCL 257.254.(y)When used in Section 304.14, "during the period from [date] to [date]" is replaced with "between May and October."(z)In Sections 602.3 and 602.4, "during the period from [date] to [date]" is deleted. (Ord. No. 1181, § 1, 11-19-12; Ord. No. 1247, § 1, 3-25-19; Ord. No. 1303, § 1, 7-11-22; Ord. No. 1317, § 1, 7-24-23)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64).
Full Breakdown
Section 1460.01(w) rewrites the International Property Maintenance Code's weed provision for Lansing: 'All premises shall be maintained free of weeds and of grass eight inches or more in height.' Section 1460.01(i) separately declares any violation a nuisance that must be corrected within the time set in the required notice, and subsection (k)(1) caps that notice at seven days specifically for grass and weed violations. If the owner doesn't comply, the City can enter the property, cut the grass, and bill the cost to the owner through a lien on the property's tax bill.
Violations & Fines
Grass or weeds at or above eight inches violates Section 302.4 as amended; the compliance notice gives only seven days before the City can abate and bill the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass legally grow in Lansing?
How long do I have to mow after a notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lansing
How Lansing compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Lansing to another location·View the Michigan landscaping rules overview
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