Waukegan, IL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 8 inches for weeds and grass
- Governing section
- PM Code § 302.4 (§ 6-178)
- Exempt growth
- Cultivated flowers and gardens
- Noxious weeds
- Prohibited at any height
- Enforcement
- Notice, then city cuts and bills owner
- Public-land weeds
- Covered separately at § 18-4
Summary
Waukegan caps weeds and grass on every lot at eight inches under Property Maintenance Code § 302.4, adopted at City Code § 6-178. Noxious weeds are banned outright, and after a notice of violation the city can send its own crew or contractor to cut the lot and bill the owner for the cost.
302.4 is amended to read: All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight (8) inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs, provided however, that this term shall not include cultivated flowers or gardens. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of the property to cut and destroy weeds, after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 109.4 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the City of Waukegan or contractor hired by the City of Waukegan 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.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
4 for Waukegan: every premises and exterior property must be kept free of weeds or plant growth taller than eight inches, and all noxious weeds are prohibited outright regardless of height. The code defines 'weeds' broadly as grasses, annual plants, and vegetation other than trees or shrubs, but carves out an exception for cultivated flowers and gardens, so an ornamental bed is not swept into the height cap. Enforcement starts with a notice of violation served on the owner or the agent in charge of the property; if the weeds are not cut and destroyed after that notice, a city employee or a contractor hired by the city can enter the lot, cut and destroy the growth, and charge the removal cost back to the responsible owner or agent.
A separate provision at § 18-4 directs the director of public works to keep streets, parks, and other public places free of poison ivy, Canadian thistle, and other noxious weed growth, so the eight-inch cap in § 6-178 is the rule that applies to private lots. 4, the general Property Maintenance Code penalty clause.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a weed notice of violation is a misdemeanor under amended subsection 109.4, punishable by a fine of $25.00 to $750.00, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with each day of noncompliance treated as a separate offense. Beyond the fine, the city can send a crew or hired contractor to cut the lot after the notice period runs and bill the full cost of removal to the owner or agent in charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can grass or weeds legally grow on a Waukegan property?
What happens after Waukegan issues a weed violation notice?
Does Waukegan's weed ordinance cover public land too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
How Waukegan compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Waukegan to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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