New Castle County, DE Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 8 inches maximum for weeds and grass
- Undeveloped-parcel buffer
- 8 inches within 20 feet of property line
- First citation penalty
- $50, doubling if unpaid in 30 days
- Annual mowing deadline
- September 30 for invasive-plant parcels
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county plus opt-in municipalities
Summary
New Castle County caps weeds and grass at 8 inches on developed parcels, with a 20-foot buffer rule for larger lots and undeveloped land near developed parcels.
302.4.2 Developed parcels. Weeds and grass on developed parcels shall be no more than 8 inches high; provided, however, on a parcel of land that is larger than 1 acre and has a building lot coverage of less than 5 percent, weeds and grass shall be no more than 8 inches high within 20 feet of any property line.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
New Castle County's Property Maintenance Code caps weeds and grass at 8 inches high on developed parcels (Sec. 302.4.2). Undeveloped parcels next to developed ones face the same 8-inch cap within 20 feet of any property line (Sec. 302.4.1). Owners must also mow at least once a year, by September 30, if invasive plants have taken over. Farmland and land under an approved natural resource or landscape plan are exempt, and wildflower meadows and pollinator gardens are exempt from the height cap if they meet setback rules. The code applies in unincorporated New Castle County and in incorporated municipalities that opt into County property maintenance enforcement. Wilmington and Newark run their own separate codes.
Violations & Fines
Violations get a written notice with a compliance deadline; unresolved growth draws a $50 civil penalty for the first citation, up to $75 for a second, up to $100 after that, doubling if unpaid within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Wilmington or Newark?
Are wildflower meadows or pollinator gardens exempt from the 8-inch limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Castle County
How New Castle County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare New Castle County to another location·View the Delaware landscaping rules overview
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