Lowell requires property owners to control noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation under the city nuisance code and state sanitary code 105 CMR 410. Non-compliance can trigger city cleanup billed to the property owner.
Lowell does not maintain a published list of specifically prohibited weed species, but the Lowell Code of Ordinances and the Massachusetts Sanitary Code 105 CMR 410 require that yards, vacant lots, and areas around buildings be kept free of weeds, brush, and debris that create a public nuisance or rodent harborage. Common complaints include Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, and unmanaged poison ivy along sidewalks. Property owners receiving a notice have generally 7 to 14 days to cut and remove the growth or the city may enter the property, perform the work, and add the cost plus administrative fees to the next tax bill as a municipal lien. Commercial and rental properties are held to a higher standard because of occupancy. Native and pollinator plantings are not treated as weeds provided they are intentional, designed, and maintained. State-listed invasive species are discouraged but not separately regulated at the municipal level in Lowell.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Lowell, MA
Lowell applies the Massachusetts DEP 10-dB-above-ambient standard for objective measurement and uses a plainly-audible test for subjective enforcement.
Lowell, MA
Lowell restricts gas-powered leaf blower use to daytime hours; no outright ban exists, but decibel and hour limits apply under the general noise ordinance.
Lowell, MA
Outdoor music at restaurants, breweries, and event venues in Lowell requires an entertainment license and must end by 10 p.m. in residential zones.
Lowell, MA
Lowell enforces nighttime quiet hours that restrict unreasonable noise in residential areas, authorized under MGL c.40 s.21 and enforced by Lowell Police and...
Lowell, MA
Amplified music from homes, vehicles, or outdoor events in Lowell must not be plainly audible beyond 50 feet and is subject to permit rules for public venues.
Lowell, MA
Industrial operations in Lowell must keep noise within Massachusetts DEP guidelines and the local ordinance, with stricter limits at residential property lines.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Middlesex County.
See how other cities in Middlesex County handle weed ordinances.
See how Lowell's weed ordinances rules stack up against other locations.
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