Orange County Weed Ordinances Rules (2026) — What You Need to Know

Orange County enforces property maintenance standards through its Code Compliance division under Chapters 11 (Code Enforcement) and 28 (Nuisances) of the county code. Grass growth exceeding 18 inches is a violation, as is the accumulation of junk, trash, and debris on a property.

The enforcement process begins when a Code Enforcement Officer observes a violation. If the violation is not corrected within a reasonable time, a hearing is scheduled before the Code Enforcement Board or Special Magistrate — two governing boards established under Florida state law that take testimony and evidence to determine whether a property is in violation. A property owner found in violation is given a specific period to correct the problem. If the violation is not corrected within that period, a fine begins accumulating for every day the violation persists.

Under Florida law, fines may reach up to $1,000 per day for an initial violation and $5,000 per day for a repeat violation. Failure to pay accumulated fines results in liens being filed against the property. In serious cases, the county may foreclose on these liens. As of July 1, 2021, in accordance with Florida House Bill 60, Orange County no longer accepts anonymous code enforcement complaints — the person filing must provide their name and address. Reports can be made by calling 3-1-1 or using the Orange County 3-1-1 mobile app.