Harrison County, MS Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- UDC-required landscaping only
- Responsible parties
- Owner, manager, tenant, agent (joint)
- Dead plant replacement
- Within 30 days
- Max fine
- $100.00 per day
- No general grass-height cap
- Not found in county code
Summary
Harrison County does not set a general lawn-height limit, but any landscaping installed to satisfy the Unified Development Code's buffer, parking-lot or frontage requirements must be kept weed- and litter-free year-round.
Ongoing maintenance of all landscaping is the responsibility of the property owner(s). The owner, property manager, tenant and their agent, if any, shall be jointly responsible for the maintenance of all required landscaping. All required landscaping shall be maintained in a healthy and growing condition as is appropriate for the current season. This shall include mowing, edging, pruning, fertilizing, watering, weeding, and other such activities common to the maintenance of landscaping. Landscaped areas shall be kept free of trash, litter, weeds and other such material or plants not a part of the landscaping.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Harrison County has no county-wide grass-height nuisance ordinance in the materials on file; instead, the weed-control obligation that does exist is tied to landscaping the county itself required a developer to install. 09(c), 'Site Improvements, Landscape Installation and Maintenance,' places ongoing maintenance of all required landscaping on the property owner, property manager, tenant and their agent jointly. The section requires that landscaping be kept 'in a healthy and growing condition as is appropriate for the current season,' explicitly listing mowing, edging, pruning, fertilizing, watering and weeding among the covered activities, and states that landscaped areas must be kept free of trash, litter, weeds and other material or plants that are not part of the approved landscaping.
10): in short, any planting a site was required to install to win zoning approval, not lawns generally. Dead plant material must be replaced with similar variety and size within 30 days, or on a longer schedule if the Administrator allows more time because of weather. Because the rule is a landscaping-maintenance condition of development approval rather than a freestanding weed-nuisance code, a lot with no required landscaping is not independently regulated here for grass height.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliance with required landscaping maintenance is a code violation the Zoning Officer can pursue under UDC § 1409: written notice, a Cease and Desist Order, or referral for injunctive relief. A knowing and willful violation is a misdemeanor under § 1409.03, carrying a fine of up to $100.00 plus court costs, with continuing non-compliance treated as a new offense each day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Harrison County have a maximum grass height for yards?
What landscaping does the weed-free rule apply to?
Who is responsible for keeping required landscaping weed-free?
What happens if required landscaping is neglected?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Harrison County
How Harrison County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Harrison County to another location·View the Mississippi landscaping rules overview
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