Yavapai County, AZ Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max weed height
- 6 inches
- Exempt vegetation
- trees, shrubs, native plants, cultivated gardens
- Self-help remedy
- county cuts weeds, bills owner
- Penalty for noncompliance
- up to $750-$10,000 per day
- Applies to
- unincorporated Yavapai County only
Summary
Yavapai County caps weeds and other plant growth on any lot at 6 inches under Property Maintenance Code Section 302.4, and outright prohibits weeds once they cross that line. Ignore a notice of violation and the county can send its own crew or contractor to cut the growth and bill the owner for the cost.
302.4: Weeds. Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 6 inches (6"). Weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than live trees or shrubs provided and native plants, and shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. ... Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 107.3 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Full Breakdown
4 of Ordinance No. 2025-9, the International Property Maintenance Code adopted for unincorporated Yavapai County effective January 1, 2026, requires that premises and exterior property be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 6 inches. The section defines weeds broadly, covering all grasses, annual plants, and other vegetation, but exempts live trees, shrubs, native plants, and cultivated flowers and gardens, so a maintained garden bed does not violate the rule even if it grows tall. 3. If the owner still does not comply, the county or a contractor it hires is authorized to enter the property, cut and destroy the weeds itself, and charge the removal cost back to the owner or agent responsible for the property.
6, which lets the Hearing Officer fine a noncompliant owner up to $750 a day, or $10,000 a day for a business, for each day the violation continues. The rule applies countywide to the unincorporated area only; Prescott, Prescott Valley, Sedona, Cottonwood, Camp Verde, Chino Valley, Clarkdale, Jerome, and Dewey-Humboldt each enforce their own municipal codes instead.
Violations & Fines
Letting weeds or plant growth top 6 inches is a Property Maintenance Code violation once the county serves a notice and the owner fails to cut and destroy the growth. Section 302.4 exposes the owner to prosecution under Section 107.3, and the county may enter the land itself to remove the weeds and bill the owner for the cost. Repeated noncompliance can draw Hearing Officer fines up to $750 for an individual or $10,000 for a corporation per day under Section 107.6.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get on my property in unincorporated Yavapai County?
What happens if I ignore a weed violation notice?
Does this rule apply inside Prescott or Prescott Valley?
Can a maintained garden bed violate the weed rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Yavapai County
How Yavapai County compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Yavapai County to another location·View the Arizona landscaping rules overview
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