Oklahoma City, OK Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches
- Enforcing agency
- Director of Neighborhood Enhancement
- Notice period
- 10-day written notice before abatement
- Penalty
- Up to $500 fine per day
- Farm exemption
- 150+ feet from non-farm zoning
Summary
Oklahoma City caps grass and weeds at 12 inches tall on any lot; taller growth is declared a public nuisance under the Municipal Code.
Rank weeds means all vegetation at any state of maturity which: a. exceeds 12 inches in height, except healthy trees, shrubs, or produce for human consumption grown in a tended and cultivated garden unless such trees and shrubbery, by their density or location, constitute a detriment to the health, benefit and welfare of the public and community or a hazard to traffic or create a fire hazard to the property or otherwise interfere with the mowing of said weeds;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 35-61, "rank weeds" means any vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height, plus any vegetation regardless of height that harbors trash, rodents, or vermin, smells, or poses a fire or traffic hazard. Section 35-62 declares rank weeds, thickets, and noxious plants (poison ivy, oak, and sumac at any height) a nuisance on any lot or the adjacent sidewalk, street, or alley strip. The Director of Neighborhood Enhancement mails a ten-day cut notice; if the owner ignores it, the City mows the lot, bills the cost, and files a lien with the county clerk under §§ 35-64 and 35-67-35-68. Farmland more than 150 feet from a non-farm lot is exempt.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring the mow notice lets the City abate the nuisance and bill the owner; unpaid costs become a lien collected like property taxes. Each day of violation is a separate Class A offense, fines up to $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds get before it's a violation in Oklahoma City?
What happens if I ignore the City's cut notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oklahoma City
How Oklahoma City compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Oklahoma City to another location·View the Oklahoma landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle weed ordinances.