Jefferson County, MO Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 20 inches or higher
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Jefferson County only
- Notice-to-compliance
- Up to 10 days
- Appeal window
- 10 calendar days
- Enforcing office
- Code Official / Solid Waste Division
Summary
Jefferson County's Public Nuisance Ordinance declares any noxious weed or tall grass, defined as vegetation twenty inches or higher, a public nuisance on real property in the unincorporated area. The Code Official can order it abated, with costs billed back to the owner as a special tax.
TALL GRASS Any grass not so exempted herein that is twenty (20) inches and higher. ...
A. All real property in the unincorporated area of Jefferson County shall be deemed a public nuisance that has the presence of a nuisance, including, but not limited to: ...
15. Any noxious weed or any tall grass, or uncontrolled vegetation twenty (20) inches and higher (see definition in Section 200.025).
Full Breakdown
190, RSMo. 020(B). ; land used for soil stabilization, stormwater or drainage easements, water conservation, or designated wildlife protection areas approved by the Director of County Services; decorative landscaping, gardens, and areas under lawful construction; and property in its undeveloped natural state. 030(D) requires personal service or certified mail plus posting a notice on the property, giving the owner up to ten days to begin cutting before the County can abate the growth itself. Owners who disagree have ten calendar days to appeal to the Jefferson County Municipal Court, filed with the Solid Waste Division on the Division's forms, before the declaration becomes final.
Violations & Fines
Failure to cut grass or weeds below twenty inches after notice lets the Code Official abate the growth directly; the certified removal cost becomes a special tax bill added to the property's real estate taxes and is a lien on the property until paid. Separate general-penalty prosecution in Municipal Court can add a fine up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail under Section 100.030.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass legally get in unincorporated Jefferson County?
Are farms exempt from the 20-inch grass rule?
What happens after the County cites a property for tall grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jefferson County
How Jefferson County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Jefferson County to another location·View the Missouri landscaping rules overview
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