Guilford County, NC Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Sec. 15-79(h), titled 'Noxious Weeds or Uncontrolled Vegetation,' sits inside Article IV's sanitary-maintenance standards alongside rules for weathertight walls, graded drainage and pest control. It requires every yard and all exterior property areas on a dwelling lot to be kept free of species of weeds or plant growth that are noxious or detrimental to health, and requires maintenance to comply with the county's Regulations Governing Health Hazards and Potential Health Hazards, a separate standard the Public Officer applies rather than a bare height number written into this section.

Because it lives in the housing code rather than a standalone weed ordinance, enforcement follows the Article IV process end to end: a Public Officer or Inspector who finds an overgrown, noxious yard may first issue a warning without a fine under Sec. 15-86(c)(1), unless the condition endangers public health or safety, in which case a citation issues directly. A citation sets a specific payment date and requires the violator to show evidence the condition was corrected; the county can also proceed by the full complaint-and-hearing route under Sec.

15-86(a) if the case escalates, with notice to the owner and any interested parties and a hearing 10 to 30 days out. An owner who disagrees with a citation or order has 10 days to appeal to the Guilford County Zoning Board of Adjustment under Sec. 15-86(e); missing that window waives the right to appeal.