Tallahassee, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

The city declares in Section 9-64 that accumulated weeds, grass or underbrush, along with trash, debris, refuse or other noxious matter, is a nuisance and a menace to public health and safety that the city may abate. The operative height standard sits in Section 9-65: owners, agents, custodians, lessees and occupants must cut and keep cut all weeds, grass or underbrush to a height not exceeding 12 inches, and must also clear any trash, debris, refuse or filth from the same lot. Enforcement starts with the 48-hour written notice described in Section 9-62, sent by the city manager, a designee, or a police officer to the owner's address on the Leon County tax rolls, the property's street address, or by posting on the lot itself if the owner cannot be found.

If the grass is still over 12 inches when the notice period runs out, Section 9-66 lets the city send its own crew to mow the lot and haul off the debris, then charge the actual cost of that work to the owner. Section 9-67 adds a separate administrative fee, set by the city manager or a designee, for processing the violation. Section 9-68 turns an unpaid bill into a special assessment lien against the property, superior to every other lien, encumbrance, title or claim except taxes, if not paid within ten days of the city's itemized statement; the city may then foreclose on that lien.

A property owner can request a hearing before the code magistrate to contest the city's determination that lot clearance was needed, though filing that request does not pause the mowing.