Wilmington, DE Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- General height limit
- 8 inches
- Right-of-way crack limit
- 4 in. height / 6 in. width
- Residential penalty
- $50, doubles after 30 days
- Commercial/apartment penalty
- $250, doubles after 30 days
- Enforcing agency
- Licenses & Inspections / Public Works
Summary
Wilmington caps weeds and grass at eight inches on private lots and four inches in curb and sidewalk cracks along public rights-of-way, with owners liable for growth on land they own.
It shall be unlawful, and the owner of the subject property shall be liable, for weeds or grasses growing or accumulating on land, including vacant lots, of which he or she is the owner, which includes, but is not limited to any public right-of-way or alley facing, adjoining or abutting the owner's property, regardless of whether the owner actually resides in or upon the property, so as to create a nuisance to health or safety thereon or to adjoining property; and in every case, a citation for failure to comply with this section shall be issued for weeds or grasses growing in the public right-of-way, including but not limited to growth occurring in cracks, fractures, expansion joints in the curbs and sidewalk, more than four inches in height and or six inches in width, and for weeds or grasses more than eight inches in height growing in any other location referenced in this section.
(Code 1968, § 33-23; Ord. No. 94-002, § 4, 2-24-94; Ord. No. 02-096,(sub1) § 2, 10-10-02; Ord. No. 06-054(sub 1), § 2, 10-19-06)
Cross reference— Vegetation, ch. 46.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Wilmington City Code § 13-36 makes it unlawful for a property owner to let weeds or grasses grow or accumulate on land they own, including vacant lots and the public right-of-way abutting their property. The code sets a hard height trigger: more than eight inches anywhere on the lot, or more than four inches in height and six inches in width where weeds sprout in curb and sidewalk cracks. The Department of Licenses and Inspections and Department of Public Works enforce the chapter under § 13-2, with a $50 civil penalty for residential properties ($250 for apartment buildings and commercial establishments) that doubles if unpaid within 30 days.
Violations & Fines
A $50 civil penalty for residential owners ($250 for apartment and commercial properties) that doubles if unpaid after 30 days; each 24-hour period of continued violation draws a separate citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds or grass get in Wilmington before it's a violation?
Who is liable if weeds grow on a vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Wilmington
How Wilmington compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Wilmington to another location·View the Delaware landscaping rules overview
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