Pocatello, ID Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

City Code § 8.14.040(B) requires that all front yards be covered with healthy vegetative material except where covered by prepared surfaces, landscaping features, or driveways allowed by code, and that lawn grass be kept trimmed to no higher than six inches (6") above grade. Noxious weeds, as defined or listed by the Idaho Department of Agriculture, are prohibited outright and eradication measures must be taken promptly rather than merely mowed down. All permitted, non-weed vegetation must be kept in a healthy, growing condition or removed, and piling of branches or dry, dead or rotting vegetation is specifically prohibited, though an exemption exists for properly maintained composting.

Enforcement runs through the same chapter-wide process as other nuisances: city staff inspect on complaint or observation under § 8.14.080, and a confirmed violation triggers a written notice under § 8.14.100 giving the responsible party two weeks to cut the grass or remove the weeds, unless city staff sets a shorter deadline. The chapter carves out one procedural exception specific to weeds: under § 8.14.100(A), if the violation involves noxious weed growth, city staff may instead contact Bannock County officials immediately to enforce the county's noxious-weed program rather than issuing a standard city notice.