New Orleans requires property owners to keep grass and weeds under 18 inches tall under City Code Sec. 66-285. Violations trigger Department of Sanitation lot abatement, with cleanup costs assessed as a lien on the property. Vacant lots in flood-prone neighborhoods are heavily targeted post-Katrina.
New Orleans City Code Sec. 66-285 prohibits noxious weeds, grass, and rank vegetation exceeding 18 inches in height on any lot or parcel within the city. The Department of Sanitation and Code Enforcement responds to complaints through the 311 system. After inspection, the city issues a notice of violation requiring abatement within 10 days. If the owner fails to comply, the city contracts crews to cut the lot, and costs (typically 200 to 600 dollars depending on lot size) are billed to the owner and may be recorded as a property lien. Repeat violations escalate to administrative hearings at the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication, with fines up to 500 dollars per offense plus daily continuing violation penalties. Vacant blighted lots, especially in Lower 9th Ward, Gentilly, and New Orleans East where post-Katrina abandonment remains common, are aggressively enforced through the BlightSTAT program. Properties in historic districts (French Quarter, Garden District, Marigny) face additional review through HDLC for any landscape changes beyond routine mowing. Owners are also responsible for maintaining the neutral ground (median) and right-of-way strip adjacent to their property in most residential zones.
Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact New Orleans code enforcement directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.
New Orleans, LA
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