Katy, TX Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed limit
- 9 inches
- Applies to
- Vacant and occupied lots
- Code section
- Section 6.103(B)
- Remedy
- City abatement and lien
Summary
Owners of vacant lots in Katy must keep weeds under nine inches and prevent rubbish, stagnant water, or pest harborage on the parcel.
Sec. 342.004. MUNICIPAL POWER CONCERNING WEEDS OR CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCES. The governing body of a municipality may require the owner of real property in the municipality to keep the property free from weeds, brush, and a condition constituting a public nuisance as defined by Section 343.011(c)(1), (2), or (3).
Full Breakdown
Katy's nuisance rules apply equally to occupied and vacant property. Section 6.103(B) makes it unlawful for an owner to permit accumulation of rubbish, brush, filth, carrion, stagnant water, or other unsightly or unsanitary matter on any lot or parcel. The weed definition in the code targets any rank or uncultivated growth more than nine inches tall, or shorter growth that harbors rodents or pests. After written notice from the Code Enforcement Officer, owners typically have a short window to abate the condition; if they do not, the city may mow or clean the lot and place a lien for the cost. Vacant lot complaints are among the most common Katy code enforcement cases.
Violations & Fines
Leaving a vacant lot unmown above nine inches, allowing dumping or stagnant water, or ignoring an abatement notice can lead to a city mowing lien and additional fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for mowing a vacant lot in Katy?
What happens after I get a Katy weed or rubbish notice?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Katy
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Katy to another location·View the Texas property maintenance overview
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fort Bend County handle vacant lot maintenance.