Philadelphia, PA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Philadelphia PM Code Sec. PM-302.4 (Weeds)
- Limit
- No weeds/plant growth over 10 inches; noxious weeds banned
- Definition of weeds
- All grasses, annual plants, and vegetation (not trees/shrubs/gardens)
- Prosecution basis
- Subcode A, The Philadelphia Administrative Code
- City abatement
- City cuts weeds and charges cost to owner
- Enforcing agency
- Department of Licenses and Inspections
Summary
Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code Section PM-302.4 bars weeds or plant growth over 10 inches and prohibits all noxious weeds. After a Notice of Violation, an owner who fails to cut and destroy the weeds is subject to prosecution, and the City may enter the property, remove the weeds, and charge the cost to the owner.
PM-302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 Code: Electronic version of The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter is current through August 19, 2026).
Full Breakdown
4 (Weeds) of the Property Maintenance Code (Subcode PM, Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code), enacted through Bill No. 140856 as part of the Subcode PM that took effect January 1, 2015. The section requires that all premises and exterior property be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches and prohibits all noxious weeds outright. Weeds are defined broadly as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs, but the definition excludes cultivated flowers and gardens, protecting intentional landscaping.
3 requires vacant land to be maintained so it does not cause blight or affect public health or safety, which reinforces weed abatement on empty lots. The Department of Licenses and Inspections enforces these provisions, typically opening a case after a 311 complaint. The ordinance contains a self-help abatement mechanism: if the owner ignores the violation notice, the City performs the cutting and recovers its costs from the owner.
Violations & Fines
Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they are subject to prosecution in accordance with Subcode A (The Philadelphia Administrative Code) and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon continued failure to comply, any duly authorized City employee or contractor may enter the property and cut and destroy the weeds, with the cost of removal paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a weed in Philadelphia?
How do I report overgrown weeds on a neighboring lot?
Who pays if the City cuts the weeds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Philadelphia
How Philadelphia compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Philadelphia to another location·View the Pennsylvania landscaping rules overview
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