Fort Myers, FL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches for weeds, grass, underbrush
- Vacant-lot notice
- 10 days to abate after mailed notice
- Administrative fee
- $50 first violation, $150 repeat
- Enforced by
- Code Enforcement Manager or designee
- Unpaid cost becomes
- Recorded lien on the property
Summary
Fort Myers requires every property owner to keep weeds, grass and underbrush cut to 12 inches or less and clear junk, or the city does it and bills a $50-$150 fee.
All owners, agents, custodians, lessees and occupants of real property within the city shall, in accordance with the notice set forth in section 54-118, cut and keep cut, to a height of not exceeding 12 inches, all wild growth on any property owned, controlled or occupied by them within the city and shall remove any junk, trash, garbage, filth, abandoned automobiles and appliances, or other noxious matter located upon such property...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Fort Myers' nuisance code defines wild growth as weeds, grass or underbrush exceeding 12 inches in height (§ 54-116) and requires every owner, agent, lessee or occupant of real property in the city to keep it cut to that height and to remove junk, trash, garbage and abandoned automobiles or appliances from the property (§ 54-119). For vacant property, the code enforcement manager mails notice to the owner of record and allows ten days to abate. If the owner fails to act, the city cuts the growth or removes the debris itself, assesses the actual cost plus a $50 administrative fee ($150 for a repeat violation within 24 months), and records it as a lien against the property (§§ 54-119, 54-120).
Violations & Fines
City abates the nuisance itself and bills the owner actual cost plus a $50 administrative fee, $150 for a repeat violation within 24 months; the assessment becomes a recorded lien, and repeated noncompliance draws a code enforcement citation under § 2-442.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get before Fort Myers takes action?
What happens if I don't clear a vacant lot in Fort Myers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida property maintenance overview
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle vacant lot maintenance.