Washington, DC Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height trigger
- 4 inches or taller
- Compliance window
- 7 days after notice
- Fine
- up to $10 per day
- Governing section
- D.C. Code § 8-301
- Unclaimed lots
- Mayor removes, doubles cost as lien
Summary
In Washington, D.C., property owners must cut weeds down once they reach 4 inches after a Department notice, or face a $10 daily fine until compliance.
It shall be the duty of the owner, occupant, or agent in charge of any land in the City of Washington, or in the more densely populated suburbs of said City, to remove from such land any weeds thereon of 4 or more inches in height within 7 days (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) after notice from the Director of the Department of Human Services so to do, and upon failure to comply with such notice he or she shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $10 for each day said notice is not complied with.
Full Breakdown
The District's weed law, D.C. Code § 8-301, requires the owner, occupant, or agent in charge of any land in Washington to remove weeds 4 inches or taller within 7 days of a notice from the Director of the Department of Human Services, excluding Sundays and legal holidays. Ignoring the notice is a criminal offense carrying a fine of up to $10 for each day the notice remains unmet, though the District may instead pursue civil fines and penalties under Chapter 18 of Title 2. If no owner can be found for an unoccupied lot, the Mayor may advertise, remove the weeds, and place double the removal cost as a tax lien on the property under § 8-302.
Violations & Fines
Failure to remove weeds 4 or more inches tall within 7 days of the Director's notice: fine of up to $10 per day of continued noncompliance, or civil fines under Title 2, Chapter 18; unclaimed lots get a doubled-cost tax lien instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the D.C. weed law apply to every property owner?
What happens if the property owner can't be found?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
How Washington compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia landscaping rules overview
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