O'Fallon, MO Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 8 inches on improved lots
- Street frontage limit
- 8 inches, 20 feet back from curb
- Notice before cutting
- 4 days
- Time to comply after order
- 5 business days
- Unpaid tax bill interest
- 8% per year
- Enforcing office
- City Code Enforcement Officer
Summary
O'Fallon caps weeds, brush and grass at eight inches tall on any improved lot with a building or structure, and the same limit runs twenty feet back from the curb along every public or private street. The Code Enforcement Officer measures four random spots to confirm a violation before acting.
The term "weeds", as used in this Section, shall mean any weed, brush, vegetation or grass more than eight (8) inches in height along any public or private street for a minimum depth of twenty (20) feet back from the outer edge of the curbing or the outer edge of the pavement if no curbing exists; and eight (8) inches in height elsewhere on improved property on which a building or structure is located...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4860992; v58 updated 2026-05-14; through 05-14-2026).
Full Breakdown
100 of the O'Fallon Code defines "weeds" as any weed, brush, vegetation or grass exceeding eight inches in height, applying that limit along street frontage for twenty feet back from the curb (or pavement edge where there is no curb) and, separately, everywhere on improved property that carries a building or structure. The Code Enforcement Officer confirms a violation by measuring four separate areas selected at random; if none of the four spots exceeds eight inches, the property is deemed in substantial compliance. Owners and occupants are jointly and severally responsible, including trustees or developers of a subdivision when the violation sits on a detention basin or common ground area.
5 to 1, plus a limited exemption for property that is zoned and used for agriculture. Even exempted agricultural land must still hold weeds to eight inches along street frontage for twenty feet back from the curb.
Violations & Fines
The Code Enforcement Officer gives four days' notice by mail, personal service or posting, then may declare the growth a nuisance and order it cut within five business days. If the owner does not comply, the City cuts the weeds itself and certifies the cost to the City Clerk, who issues a special tax bill that becomes a first lien on the property, bearing 8% annual interest if unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get before O'Fallon cites me?
What happens if I don't cut the weeds after notice?
Does the eight-inch rule apply to farmland inside city limits?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in O'Fallon
How O'Fallon compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare O'Fallon to another location·View the Missouri landscaping rules overview
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