Springfield City Code Section 170.17.15(a) makes any rank growth of weeds 10 inches or greater in height a violation, enforced by the Building & Zoning Housing Division with cut-and-lien authority on vacant lots. Statewide, the Illinois Noxious Weed Law (505 ILCS 100/3) requires every person to control the spread of and eradicate noxious weeds on land they own or control.
Weed control in Springfield operates on two levels. Locally, Section 170.17.15(a) of the Springfield City Code, 1988, as amended, declares rank weed growth of 10 inches or greater a violation; the City's Housing Division (within Building and Zoning) enforces it, and on vacant lots or lots with an unoccupied structure the City may cut weeds over 10 inches without further notice, bill the owner, and file a lien for the cost. Residents report violations to (217) 789-2167. Statewide, the Illinois Noxious Weed Law (505 ILCS 100) imposes an independent duty: under Section 3, 'Every person shall control the spread of and eradicate noxious weeds on lands owned or controlled by him.' A 'noxious weed' under Section 2(5) is any plant the Director of Agriculture (with University of Illinois agricultural officials) determines to be injurious to public health, crops, livestock, land, or other property; the State's listed noxious weeds include species such as common ragweed, giant ragweed, Canada thistle, marijuana, kudzu, and others designated by rule (8 Ill. Adm. Code Part 220). The county Control Authority can order eradication and assess costs against the landowner who fails to comply. Springfield's 10-inch ordinance therefore handles ordinary overgrowth and blight, while the Noxious Weed Law addresses designated harmful species regardless of height.
Locally, rank weed growth of 10 inches or more is a code violation; the city may cut, bill the owner, and lien the property (final notice given on vacant lots via public notice). Under the Illinois Noxious Weed Law, a landowner who neglects or fails to control or eradicate noxious weeds after notice from the county Control Authority may have the weeds destroyed at the owner's expense, with the cost recoverable against the owner.
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