Coconino County, AZ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max grass height
- 4 inches, Zone 2 (10-30 ft from structure)
- Applies to
- New WUI subdivisions/developments with a landscape plan
- Maintenance frequency
- At least once annually
- Post-construction duty
- Annual noxious weed monitoring, must stay weed-free
- Governing section
- Zoning Ordinance § 4.4.E
Summary
Coconino County caps mowed defensible-space grass at 4 inches within 10 to 30 feet of a structure under its Wildland/Urban Interface fire standards, and requires every new subdivision or development that files a landscape plan to identify, eliminate and keep monitoring noxious weeds. Both duties fall under the county's Landscaping chapter, Section 4.4.E.
B. Zone 2: 10 to 30 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc... v. Cut grass to a height no greater than 4 inches above ground level. 2. Weed Mitigation. All new subdivisions and developments requiring a landscape plan within the County shall provide for weed mitigation on development sites as outlined in this subsection. A qualified professional shall be consulted to develop effective weed treatment, revegetation, and monitoring plans... C. Long-term: Monitoring and Control. i. Monitor the reoccurrence of Noxious Weeds across the entire property on an annual basis following construction... iii. The site must remain weed free. A site visit may be conducted by the Community Development Department to document compliance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
E splits its weed and grass rules into fire-safety defensible space standards and a separate weed-mitigation program. v requires grass be cut to a height no greater than 4 inches above ground level, ladder fuels removed, tree limbs trimmed at least 6 feet up, and vegetation treatment extended to 130 feet total on slopes over 20 percent. That standard applies to every subdivision and development inside the Wildland/Urban Interface that is required to carry a landscape plan; defensible space in all three zones must be maintained at least once a year.
2's Weed Mitigation program requires a qualified landscape professional to identify every Noxious Weed species on a development site before construction, remove existing weeds using direct removal or herbicide, and use only certified weed-free aggregate material. C requires annual monitoring for the reoccurrence of Noxious Weeds across the entire property, with control required using the same methods until the site is weed-free again, and it states plainly that the site must remain weed-free going forward. The Community Development Department can conduct a site visit to document compliance, and a waiver from the landscape-professional requirement is available only with the Community Development Director's approval.
Violations & Fines
Failing to maintain the required defensible-space clearance or letting Noxious Weeds reoccur after the monitoring period is a violation of the Zoning Ordinance and a public Nuisance Per Se under Section 5.14.B, with each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense. The Hearing Officer can impose civil or criminal fines of up to $750 per day against an individual property owner or $10,000 per day against a corporation or association under A.R.S. §§ 13-802(B) and 13-803(A)(3), and the County may withhold further Building and Zoning permits until the site is brought back into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass be on a Coconino County lot near my house?
Does Coconino County require ongoing weed control after a development is built?
Who has to prepare a weed mitigation plan before building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coconino County
How Coconino County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Coconino County to another location·View the Arizona landscaping rules overview
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