Kent County, DE Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

4, Prohibited growth of weeds and grass. As amended, Subsection A sets the operative limit: 'Weeds and grass shall be no greater than 12 inches high on any parcel except as provided below,' and shortens the cure period, giving the owner or responsible party just 'five days following notice to cure the violation' rather than the five-to-thirty-day window Chapter 90 otherwise allows for property maintenance cases. If the owner does not cut the growth within those five days, 'the Code Official will take action to remediate the violation,' and the county then 'pursue[s] cost recovery' against the owner under Chapter 90, Violations and Complaints.

Subsection B exempts 'ornamental shrubs and trees' and a wildflower meadow, so long as the meadow is maintained and sits at least 10 feet from any property line. Subsection C exempts any parcel 'that is a farm or property used exclusively for agricultural purposes,' and Subsection D exempts land covered by a county- or state-approved natural resource, landscape, record or reforestation plan. Subsections E and F separately require dead limbs and dead trees to be removed outside wooded areas, and shrubbery to be kept clear of walkways, driveways, doors and hatchways, while Subsection G exempts wooded areas, young and mature forest, and critical natural areas from the height limit entirely. 1's jurisdiction clause, a vacant residential or commercial lot outside Dover, Smyrna, Milford and the county's other incorporated towns is squarely covered.