Osceola County, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Improved-lot limit
- 12 inches
- Unimproved-lot limit
- 18 inches
- Notice window
- 20 days (10 if repeat)
- Lien interest
- 12% per annum
- Governing code
- § 9-131 to 9-138
Summary
Osceola County limits weeds, grass, and undergrowth to 12 inches on improved lots and 18 inches on unimproved lots within 500 feet of an occupied structure. Exceeding the limit is a public nuisance; the county can mow and bill the owner.
exceeding twelve (12) inches in height above the surface of the ground upon a substantial portion of any improved lot within a five hundred (500) feet radius of a residential, commercial or industrial structure designed for human occupancy and/or the existence of junk and debris upon any lot within incorporated county. It is hereby determined that any lot in violation of the above standard is or may reasonably become infested with or inhabited by rodents, vermin and snakes; may furnish a breeding place for mosquitoes or other insects; may cause undue pollination which may produce hay fever or other respiratory conditions in humans; may be unsightly and, therefore, reduce neighboring property values and the quality of life; may contribute to the combustion and spread of fire; or may become an attractive nuisance or menace to children and others, and for all or any of the aforesaid reasons constitutes a public nuisance.
(Ord. No. 90-22, § 1, 6-25-90; Ord. No. 92-3, § 3; Ord. No. 2014-165, § 1, 10-20-14)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 71 | Land Development Code: Supplement 10).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 9, Article V prohibits noxious, uncultivated, or rank weeds, grasses, or undergrowth exceeding 12 inches on a substantial portion of any improved lot, or 18 inches on any unimproved lot, within 500 feet of a residential, commercial, or industrial structure designed for human occupancy. Undisturbed palmetto, cabbage palm, and native woody vegetation are excluded, and agricultural or Rural/Agriculture lots are exempt. Overgrowth is deemed to harbor rodents, vermin, and snakes and reduce property values. The county mails or posts a violation notice giving the owner 20 days to mow or appeal (10 days for a reoccurring violation). Enforcement runs through the Chapter 7 code-enforcement process.
Violations & Fines
If not abated, the county mows the lot; delinquent mowing and inspection invoices become a lien at 12% interest. Repeat violations shorten the cure window to 10 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the grass height limit on my occupied home lot?
Does the county mow if I do not?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Osceola County
How Osceola County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Osceola County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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