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Jacksonville, FL Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Height limit
15 inches over majority of parcel
Governing chapter
Ch. 518, Ordinance Code
Reach
Lots within 100 ft of occupied structures
Offense class
Class D offense, per-day violation
City remedy
Abatement plus lien for the cost

Summary

Jacksonville caps weeds, grass and underbrush on vacant and unimproved lots at 15 inches under Ordinance Code § 518.202; taller growth is a public nuisance the City can abate and bill to the owner.

Nuisance vegetation which exceeds a height of 15 inches over the majority of the parcel or growth or weeds, grass, underbrush or undergrowth, or other noxious vegetation (but not including trees, plants or other vegetation protected by State law) which fully or partially obstructs the parcel or any public right-of-way, sidewalk or other type of passage.

Source: Jacksonville Ordinance Code Chapter 518 Jacksonville Property Safety and Maintenance Code, Part 2 – Improved or Unimproved Lots and Exterior ConditionsView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6 Update 1).

Full Breakdown

Under the Jacksonville Property Safety and Maintenance Code (Ch. 518, Ordinance Code), nuisance vegetation exceeding 15 inches over most of a vacant or unimproved lot, or weeds, grass, underbrush and other noxious growth that blocks the parcel, a sidewalk or right-of-way, is declared a public nuisance. The rule reaches any lot within 100 feet of an occupied structure, or any lot citywide if the Chief of the Municipal Code Compliance Division determines it is a health or safety risk. Owners get a written notice to correct; unresolved violations can be cited as a Class D offense, referred to a Special Magistrate, or abated directly by City crews with the cost placed as a lien against the property.

Violations & Fines

Notice of violation, then Class D offense citation or Special Magistrate referral; unabated nuisances let the City mow or clear the lot and place a special assessment lien on the property for the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 15-inch weed limit apply to vacant lots I own?
Yes. Ordinance Code § 518.202(1) applies to any lot, improved or unimproved, within 100 feet of an occupied structure, and to any other lot the Chief determines poses a health or safety risk.
What happens if I don't cut the weeds?
The City can issue a Class D offense citation, refer the case to a Special Magistrate, or send a crew to clear the lot and bill you through a lien on the property.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Jacksonville

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All Jacksonville rules

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