Miami Beach, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 58-298(e), improved lots
- Numeric height limit
- None; "excessive growth" standard
- Applies to
- All buildings, vacant or occupied
- Enforcement body
- Special magistrate, Sec. 58-201
- Vacant lot rule
- Separate, Sec. 58-299(c)/58-301
- Vacant-lot admin fee
- $75.00 if city clears lot
Summary
Miami Beach sets no inch-based height cap for grass or weeds on occupied properties. City Code Sec. 58-298(e) instead bans "excessive growth of weeds, grass and other flora," defining excessive as growth detrimental to health, safety or welfare. Violations on occupied buildings go before the special magistrate under Sec. 58-201.
(a)All buildings, vacant or occupied, shall comply with the requirements of subsections (b)—(o) of this section...(e)Exterior premises shall be kept free from the excessive growth of weeds, grass and other flora. The term "excessive" shall be interpreted as detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or the public.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98 | Resiliency Code (Current Land Development Regulations): Publication | Ordinance 89-2665 (Previous Land Development Regulations): Publication).
Full Breakdown
" Subsection (e) is the operative weed rule: exterior premises must be kept free of excessive growth of weeds, grass and other flora, with "excessive" defined by a health/safety/welfare test rather than a measured height. A code compliance officer inspects under Sec. 58-230 and issues a notice of violation under Sec. 58-231; if the owner does not correct the condition, enforcement proceeds before the city's special magistrate under Sec. 58-201, which routes penalties through Chapter 30 of the city Code rather than a police citation.
A separate but related standard governs unimproved land: Sec. 58-299(c) applies the identical "excessive growth" language to vacant buildings, structures and vacant or unimproved lots, and Sec. 58-300 declares unmaintained vacant lots within 200 feet of improved property a public nuisance. For those vacant-lot cases only, Sec. 00 administrative charge) as a special assessment lien if the owner fails to act. That lien-and-lot-clearance track under Sec. 58-299 through 58-301 does not apply to an occupied, improved lot governed by Sec. 58-298; those go through the general special magistrate process instead.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate excessive weed or grass growth on an occupied property is a violation of Sec. 58-298(e), enforced through a Sec. 58-231 notice of violation and, if uncorrected, a hearing before the special magistrate under Sec. 58-201(a). The special magistrate applies the penalty and continuing-violation procedures of Chapter 30 of the city Code, and each day the condition continues after the compliance deadline can be treated as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Miami Beach specify a maximum grass height in inches?
Who enforces the weed and grass standard on an occupied home?
Is the rule different for a vacant or unimproved lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami Beach
How Miami Beach compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami Beach to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
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