Lakeville, MN Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Threshold
- 8 inches on vacant parcels under 1 acre
- Exemption
- Undeveloped land over 1 acre exempt
- Exemption condition
- Must still prevent noxious weeds
- Notice
- 7 days before city abates and bills owner
- Cost recovery
- Minn. Stat. section 429.061 assessment
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor under sections 4-1-2 and 1-4-1
Summary
In the City of Lakeville, Minnesota, City Code section 4-1-3 treats weeds or grass over eight inches (8") as a public nuisance on any vacant lot, outlot, or parcel under one acre that has no building on it. Undeveloped parcels larger than one acre are exempt as long as noxious weeds are still controlled.
4-1-3: LENGTH OF WEEDS AND GRASS: ... A. Pervasive weeds or grass in excess of eight inches (8") in length shall be declared a public nuisance and is prohibited on the following properties: ... ... 2. On any lot, outlot, or parcel less than one (1) acre in area without a building. B. The following properties shall be exempt from the limit on the length of grass established by section 4-1-3.A of this title provided the property is maintained to the extent required to prevent growth of noxious weeds: 1. Undeveloped lots, outlots, and parcels with a contiguous area of more than one (1) acre.
Full Breakdown
Section 4-1-3 of the Lakeville City Code does not stop at built lots: subsection A.2 extends the same eight-inch (8") nuisance threshold to any lot, outlot, or parcel smaller than one acre that has no building, which covers the small vacant infill parcels scattered through Downtown Lakeville and newer subdivisions like Spirit of Brandtjen Farm before they are built out. Subsection B then draws the line the other way for larger open land: undeveloped lots, outlots, and parcels with a contiguous area of more than one acre are exempt from the eight-inch height limit under B.1, and the code extends the same exemption to land encumbered by a stormwater basin, drainageway, wetland, or wetland buffer under B.2, to city-owned parks and natural areas under B.3, and to state, county, or city rights-of-way under B.4.
Every exemption still carries the condition in the lead-in to subsection B that the property be maintained enough to prevent noxious weeds from spreading, so a large vacant parcel is not left to run wild. Enforcement of the sub-acre vacant-lot rule follows the same abatement path as built lots: seven (7) days' written notice under subsection C, after which the City may cut the vegetation and assess the cost against the property under Minnesota Statutes section 429.061. The Zoning Administrator can grant a further exception under subsection D where erosion or site conditions make cutting prohibitive.
Lakeville's Planning and Community Development staff track vacant and outlot parcels separately from occupied lots because the acreage threshold, not building status, is what determines whether the eight-inch rule or the one-acre exemption applies.
Violations & Fines
A vacant lot or outlot under one acre that lets weeds or grass exceed eight inches faces the same seven-day notice and city-mowing process as a built lot under section 4-1-3.C, with the cutting cost assessed against the property under Minnesota Statutes section 429.061. Creating the nuisance is also a misdemeanor under sections 4-1-2 and 1-4-1, carrying up to ninety (90) days in jail or a $1,000.00 fine under section 1-3-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 8-inch weed rule apply to an empty lot?
Is a large undeveloped parcel exempt from the height limit?
What other land is exempt besides large vacant parcels?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakeville
Compare Lakeville to another location·View the Minnesota property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.