Palm Beach Gardens, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Palm Beach Gardens Code § 34-121 sets the city's numeric weed and grass ceiling by declaring a violation whenever a dense growth of trees, vines, underbrush, weeds, wild growth, or grass in excess of 12 inches in height from the ground is allowed to develop on vacant lands contiguous to developed residential lots and on developed residential lots, or in excess of 18 inches from the ground on all other lands anywhere in the city. The section does not stop at the height number: it declares the overgrowth unlawful and prohibited and declared to be a public nuisance only to the extent and in the manner that it constitutes or may reasonably become a menace to life, property, the public health, or the public welfare, creates a fire hazard, or provides a nest or breeding ground for sandflies, mosquitoes, rats, mice, other rodents, snakes, and other types of pests and vermin.

The 12-inch figure applies to the most sensitive category, residential ground and vacant land touching it, while every other parcel in the city, including commercial and industrial land, gets the looser 18-inch ceiling. Section 34-121 dates to Code 1987 § 95.20 and opens Article V of Chapter 34 (Weeds, Rubbish, Unsanitary Conditions). Section 34-129 sets the enforcement penalty specifically for this article, letting the code enforcement special magistrate, acting under F.S. § 162.09 and section 2-186 et seq., fine a first violation up to $250.00 per day and a repeat violation up to $500.00 per day.