Lynchburg, VA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed height limit
- Over 12 inches (Sec. 26-28.1(c))
- Cure period
- 10 calendar days after notice
- Enforcing office
- Dept. of community planning and development
- First offense
- Class 4 misdemeanor (Sec. 26-28.8)
- Repeat offense
- Class 3, then class 2 misdemeanor
Summary
Lynchburg's weed control ordinance defines "weeds" as any grass or other vegetation over 12 inches tall, excluding cultivated gardens and undisturbed woodland, and bars owners from letting weeds reach nuisance-level growth on any property in the city. The department of community planning and development gives ten calendar days' notice to cut before declaring a lot "neglected property" and cutting it at the owner's expense.
"Weeds" shall include any plant, grass or other vegetation (herbaceous or woody) over 12 inches in height, excluding trees, ornamental shrubbery, vegetable and flower gardens purposefully planted and maintained by the property owner or occupant free of weed hazard or nuisance, cultivated crops, or undisturbed woodland not otherwise in violation. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner or owners, occupant or occupants of any property, either vacant or developed, situated in the city to allow weeds to reach a stage of growth wherein it causes a public nuisance as defined in section 26-1 of this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 10).
Full Breakdown
1(c) defines "weeds" as "any plant, grass or other vegetation (herbaceous or woody) over 12 inches in height," carving out trees, ornamental shrubbery, purposefully planted and maintained vegetable and flower gardens, cultivated crops, and undisturbed woodland not otherwise in violation. 4 it must serve notice giving the owner ten calendar days to cut or remove the growth. 5. 7(c) authorizes the department to formally designate the parcel "neglected property," a status that stays in effect until the owner gives adequate assurance the lot will be kept mowed going forward.
Once a lot is declared neglected, a citizen applicant may enter and cut the weeds at the applicant's own expense and risk, though chain saws require the department's specific authorization and the applicant cannot remove trees or shrubbery unless limbs endanger people or property. 6.
Violations & Fines
Failing to cut weeds after a ten-day notice is punishable under Section 26-28.8 on an escalating scale: a class 4 misdemeanor for a first offense within a year, a class 3 misdemeanor for a second, and a class 2 misdemeanor for a third. The city can also cut the weeds itself and place a lien against the property for the cost, collected the same way as delinquent taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds legally grow in Lynchburg?
How much time do I get to cut weeds after a city notice?
What is "neglected property" under Lynchburg's weed ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lynchburg
How Lynchburg compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Lynchburg to another location·View the Virginia landscaping rules overview
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