Fishers, IN Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Vacant lots in Fishers are regulated primarily through the high weeds and grass ordinance (Ordinance 120511A, adopted 2012) and the Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 157). Grass, weeds, or other rank or useless vegetation that exceeds eight inches in height, or any vegetation harboring insects or disease that creates a hazard to life, health, or property, constitutes a violation that applies to occupied and vacant parcels alike. Importantly, the ordinance does not apply to wetlands, woods, nature preserves, undeveloped areas, storm-water best management practice (BMP) areas, or agricultural crops such as hay and pasture, so a genuinely natural or designated open-space lot is treated differently from a neglected developed lot. Beyond mowing, the residential maintenance provisions (Section 157.09.10) require all exterior property areas to be kept free of invasive noxious weeds and plant growth and prohibit conditions that blight or deteriorate surrounding homes and the neighborhood. The Permitting and Inspection / Code Enforcement division enforces these standards, and for chronically neglected or abandoned parcels the city can declare the property abandoned, abate the nuisance, and place a lien for its costs. Owners of vacant lots remain responsible for routine mowing, debris removal, and keeping the parcel from becoming a dumping ground or pest harborage.