Muncie, IN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 98.01 defines "weeds and/or rank vegetation" as any vegetable matter exceeding 12 inches in height, excluding planted trees, bushes, or shrubs that do not interfere with public safety or right-of-way use, agricultural crops, and vegetation cultivated in plant beds. Section 98.02 places the duty to cut or remove such growth on every owner of real property inside Muncie's corporate limits. Under Section 98.03, the Building Commissioner's office inspects properties and, on finding a violation, serves a written notice of violation in person, by first-class mail per IC 36-7-10.1-3, or posted on the property, giving the owner ten days to comply and explaining the appeal procedure.

If reinspection under Section 98.05 shows the vegetation still uncut and no appeal was filed, city crews enter the property, cut it, and bill the owner a $200.00 administrative fee plus $50.00 per half hour of abatement labor. Section 98.06 turns any unpaid bill into a lien, recorded and collected the same way as property taxes under IC 36-7-10.1-4. Section 98.07 lets an owner appeal either the notice of violation or the abatement bill to the Board of Public Works and Safety within ten days, with an informal hearing at the board's next regular meeting.