West Palm Beach, FL Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max grass/weed height
- 6 inches
- Applies to
- improved and unimproved lots
- Correction window
- 10 days from notice
- First-tier fine
- up to $250/day
- Enhanced fine cap
- up to $1,000/day, $15,000 total
Summary
West Palm Beach caps weeds and grass on every lot, improved or vacant, at six inches under City Code § 74-4(c)(3). Owners and occupants must also keep the yard, adjoining swale, and half of any bordering alley right-of-way clear. A code enforcement officer can cite the property, and an uncorrected violation lets the city cut the lot and lien the cost.
(3)All lands in the city shall be kept free from weeds and grass of a height exceeding six inches.(5)Owners and occupants of all property, whether improved or unimproved, shall be responsible for keeping their entire premises, including the yard, one-half of the alley right-of-way, street right-of-way and/or easement, and the parkway or swale and/or easement adjoining the property free from yard and garden wastes, including tree limbs, leaves, branches, and any other yard wastes, except for those periods immediately prior to collection as permitted in this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
' Subsection (c)(1) broadens the duty to any vegetation whose height, condition, or disease, including lethal yellowing of palms, could damage life or property during tropical winds, and subsection (c)(5) puts the burden on the owner or occupant to maintain the yard, one-half of the abutting alley right-of-way, the street right-of-way, and the swale, whether the parcel is improved or unimproved. The city's own violation-classification table lists 'Overgrown Lots' as a Class III offense drawn straight from this chapter. A code enforcement officer inspects under § 74-81 and issues a notice of violation; because overgrowth is not a garbage-collection violation, § 74-84(2) gives the owner ten days from the notice to cut the lot, though § 74-84(3) lets an officer skip that grace period if the condition is a serious health or safety threat.
If the deadline passes, § 74-85(a) authorizes city crews or contractors to enter and mow, then bill the owner for the cost plus an administrative fee; unpaid bills become a special assessment lien ranking with ad valorem taxes, enforceable by foreclosure under the same section.
Violations & Fines
Overgrown lots referred to the special magistrate under Chapter 26 face a fine of up to $250.00 per day past the compliance deadline set in the magistrate's order, or up to $500.00 per day for a repeat violation, per § 26-35(a). The magistrate may raise those caps to $1,000.00 per day for a first violation, $5,000.00 per day for a repeat, and up to $15,000.00 total if the overgrowth is found irreparable, per § 26-35(b). A certified order becomes a recorded lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does West Palm Beach's six-inch weed rule apply to a vacant lot I own but don't live on?
How long do I have to cut the grass after the city cites my property?
What happens if I never cut the lot after being cited?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Palm Beach
How West Palm Beach compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Florida rules heatmap·Compare West Palm Beach to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Weed Ordinances in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle weed ordinances.