Virginia Beach, VA Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 10 inches
- Notice period
- 7 days to cut
- Violation
- Class 4 misdemeanor
- City mowing fee
- $150 administrative charge
- Enforced by
- Housing & Neighborhood Preservation Dept.
Summary
Virginia Beach bars grass, weeds, or brush over 10 inches tall on any property, including the strip out to the curb. Code enforcement gives owners a notice with seven days to cut it before citing them.
...upon determination by the director of housing and neighborhood preservation, the code enforcement administrator, or any inspector of the department of housing and neighborhood preservation... that there exists on any land or premises within the city... any grass, weeds, brush or similar vegetation in excess of ten (10) inches in height, notice shall be served on the owner of such land or premises... to cause such grass, weeds, brush or similar vegetation to be cut and removed... within seven (7) days from the date of such notice.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 170 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under City Code § 23-50(b), housing and neighborhood preservation inspectors who find grass, weeds, brush, or similar vegetation taller than 10 inches on a property, including the area between the lot and the curb, sidewalk, sound wall, or pavement edge, serve the owner or occupant a notice requiring it be cut and removed within seven days. One notice per growing season is enough for the city to keep mowing vacant developed or undeveloped land all season. Active farmland, wooded and wetland areas, and remote undeveloped parcels are excluded under subsections (e) and (f).
Violations & Fines
Missing the seven-day deadline is a Class 4 misdemeanor. The city can also cut the vegetation itself and bill a $150 administrative fee, which becomes a lien on the property if unpaid within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as excessive growth in Virginia Beach?
What happens if I ignore the notice?
Are farms or wooded lots exempt?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Virginia Beach
How Virginia Beach compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Virginia Beach to another location·View the Virginia landscaping rules overview
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