Woodbury, MN Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Max height
- 8 inches (weeds/grass)
- R-1 compliance buffer
- 20 feet from dwelling
- R-4 (1 acre or less)
- standard applies lot-wide
- Natural-area exemptions
- steep slopes, buffers, undeveloped land
- Enforcement
- city abatement plus special assessment
- Violation classification
- misdemeanor (Sec. 15-6)
Summary
Woodbury caps weeds and grass at eight inches tall under City Code's 'eight-inch standard,' enforced zone by zone: R-1 lots must meet it within 20 feet of the dwelling, and noxious weeds are declared a nuisance citywide under Sec. 15-2(a)(8).
Eight-inch standard is the height to which all weeds and grass must be maintained. Weeds and grass must not exceed a height of eight inches from the base at ground level to the highest tip of each stalk, stem, blade or leaf.... (f)R-1 zoned lots must meet the eight-inch standard within 20 feet of the dwelling. Other areas may meet the natural standard.... (8)All noxious weeds, tall grasses and other rank growths. The word "weeds" means all noxious weeds as defined by the state law and all useless and troublesome plants as are commonly known as weeds to the general public.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 48).
Full Breakdown
Woodbury's lawn maintenance rule in Sec. 27-65 defines the 'Eight-inch standard' precisely: weeds and grass must not exceed eight inches, measured from the base at ground level to the highest tip of each stalk, stem, blade, or leaf. Sec. 27-66 applies that standard differently depending on zoning and lot size. R-1 zoned lots and R-2 unplatted lots need the eight-inch standard only within 20 feet of the dwelling; R-2 platted lots add a 20-foot buffer along the curb or road shoulder; R-4 lots one acre or smaller must meet it everywhere, though a violation-free lot may leave up to 35 percent of the rear yard natural; larger R-4 lots and nonresidential or institutional lots owe the standard in defined bands near the dwelling, buildings, parking lots, and road.
Everywhere else, owners may let the area grow to the 'natural standard' instead, and Sec. 27-66(h) exempts steep slopes, surface-water buffers, nature preserves, undeveloped property, and similar areas from any height limit at all, while gardens and crops need only keep weeds a minor part of the vegetation. Prohibited noxious weeds, defined by state law, are barred everywhere, including gardens and farmland, under Sec. 27-66(a). Separately, Sec. 15-2(a)(8) declares 'all noxious weeds, tall grasses and other rank growths' a public nuisance affecting health, safety, comfort, or repose citywide.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 15-5(b)(2) lets Woodbury eliminate weeds and grass that exceed the height limits in this Code and bill the cost, plus administrative fees, to the property as a special assessment if the owner does not correct it after a notice of violation. Sec. 15-6 separately makes maintaining or permitting a nuisance, including the noxious weeds and tall grasses in Sec. 15-2(a)(8), a misdemeanor upon conviction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can my grass or weeds legally get in Woodbury?
Do all yards in Woodbury have to be mowed to eight inches everywhere?
What happens if I ignore a mowing violation notice?
Are noxious weeds treated differently from tall grass in Woodbury?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Woodbury
How Woodbury compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Woodbury to another location·View the Minnesota landscaping rules overview
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