New Rochelle, NY Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Section 250-5A applies to any occupied or unoccupied lot or land in the city, reaching not just the lot itself but the strip between the property line and the curb, the middle of an adjoining alley, or the edge of the street pavement where there's no curb. It bans any growth of weeds, grass or other rank vegetation taller than six inches, and any accumulation of dead weeds, grass or brush. A separate clause in the same subsection makes it unlawful to let poison ivy, ragweed or other plants harmful to health extend onto, overhang or border a public place, or let their seed, pollen or other particles carry into one.

Section 250-5B places an ongoing duty on the owner, lessee or occupant in control of the land to cut and remove the vegetation as often as necessary to stay in compliance. The section carries no dollar penalty of its own. Instead, § 250-6 lets the Building Official serve a written abatement notice and have City crews cut an noncompliant lot under the City Charter's cost-recovery procedure, while § 250-7 applies the Chapter 250 general penalty to the underlying violation. The vegetation section was added in 1997 by Ordinance No. 104-1997, which also renumbered the prior § 250-5 as § 250-7.