Utica, NY Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)

Two layers govern weeds in Utica. First, the adopted NYS Property Maintenance Code §302.4 caps weeds and grass at 10 inches on developed areas used by occupants or the public and bans noxious weeds outright. Second, the City Code's public-nuisance and property-conservation provisions let Codes Enforcement declare overgrown, debris-strewn parcels a nuisance and abate them. The zoning code's planting standards also require that all planted areas be maintained in a relatively weed-free condition, clear of undergrowth and free of refuse and debris. Any expense the city incurs abating a nuisance, including administrative costs, is charged back to the owner, occupant or person in charge of the property.