San Antonio, TX Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- Over 12 inches is a nuisance
- Under 3 acres
- Entire tract kept clear
- Enforced by
- Code Enforcement Services (DSD)
- Nonpayment
- City abates, files lien
Summary
San Antonio bans weeds and grass over 12 inches in height on lots and parcels, treating them as a public nuisance. Code Enforcement can fine the owner and the city will mow the property and place a lien for the cost.
Weeds shall mean all uncultivated vegetable growth or plant matter that has grown to more than twelve (12) inches in height, other than trees. ... If a tract of land is smaller than three (3) acres, the entire tract shall be kept free of weeds and brush over twelve (12) inches in height.
Full Breakdown
Under Chapter 14, Article VII (Lot Clearance) of the San Antonio City Code, weeds and brush over 12 inches in height are declared a public nuisance within 150 feet of a street curb line or another owner's property line; tracts under three acres must be kept clear of 12-inch growth over the entire tract. The city's Development Services Department Code Enforcement Services inspects and issues notice. Failing to abate is unlawful noncompliance, and the city abates the nuisance itself and charges the cost back to the owner as a lien against the property.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance is a misdemeanor punishable by fine, and the city mows the lot and assesses the abatement cost as a lien on the property under Section 14-64 for nonpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass and weeds get in San Antonio?
What happens if I don't mow my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
How San Antonio compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Antonio to another location·View the Texas landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle weed ordinances.