Tempe, AZ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Tempe City Code § 21-3(b)(8)
- Max weed/grass height
- 12 inches
- Palm frond rule
- Dry fronds capped at 8 ft below live growth
- Trigger
- Visible from public property
- Max fine
- $2,000/day per property
Summary
Tempe caps weeds, uncultivated growth and tall grass at 12 inches on any property where the landscaping is visible from public property. City Code § 21-3(b)(8) also targets substantially dead landscaping, dead trees and stumps, and palm trees with dry fronds hanging more than 8 feet below the lowest living frond.
Any landscaping, visible from public property, that is substantially dead, damaged, or characterized by uncontrolled growth, or presents a deteriorated appearance; uncultivated plants, weeds, tall grass, uncultivated shrubs or growth (whether growing or otherwise) higher than twelve (12) inches; or any dead trees, bushes, shrubs or portions thereof, including stumps; or any palm or similar type tree having dead or dry fronds descending downward from the base of the lowest living frond more than eight (8) feet or dry fronds longer than five (5) feet and closer than eight (8) feet to the ground;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 33 Update 4 | Zoning and Development Code: Supplement 11 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Section 21-3(b)(8) of the general Tempe City Code is the operative weed-height standard, listed among the chapter's enumerated nuisance violations. " The same subsection separately addresses dead trees, bushes, shrubs and stumps, and imposes a palm-tree grooming standard: dry fronds cannot hang more than 8 feet below the lowest living frond, and any dry frond longer than 5 feet cannot sit closer than 8 feet to the ground, a rule aimed at fire and pest risk in untrimmed palms common across the Valley. Because the trigger is visibility "from public property," a homeowner's overgrown side or backyard invisible from the street or an alley generally falls outside this particular subsection, though it can still be reached under the chapter's general nuisance findings in Section 21-2 if it threatens health or safety.
Community Development responds to weed complaints, documents the violation, and issues a notice to comply under Section 21-43 specifying a compliance deadline before any citation is written, unless the property already carries a habitual-offender designation.
Violations & Fines
A weed violation under Section 21-3(b)(8) is enforced as a civil sanction under Section 21-42, with fines set by the City Council's schedule and capped at $2,000 per day per property, plus a $50 default fee for skipping the court date. The City may instead pursue a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each day the growth stays above 12 inches after the compliance deadline counts as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get in my Tempe yard before it's a violation?
Are dead trees or stumps covered by the same rule?
Does Tempe regulate untrimmed palm trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tempe
How Tempe compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Tempe to another location·View the Arizona landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Maricopa County handle weed ordinances.