Longmont, CO Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Vacant lots in Longmont are subject to the same property-maintenance standards as occupied properties. The two principal provisions are (1) LMC Chapter 9.32 — weeds and grasses on any property within the city limits may not exceed 12 inches in height, and (2) LMC Chapter 6.44 — accumulated trash, scrap, appliances, dismantled machinery, or other debris must not be allowed to accumulate on the lot. The City of Longmont's weed ordinance applies to all land within the city limits, including land owned by the city itself, and noxious-weed control is overlaid by the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (Title 35, Article 5.5, C.R.S.) which mandates control of state-listed Lists A and B species. Code Enforcement uses a complaint-driven and proactive process: a Notice of Violation is issued with a reasonable compliance deadline; if the owner does not act, the City contracts the work (mowing, debris removal) and the property owner receives a bill plus the standard civil-penalty schedule of $100 / $200 / $500. Vacant lots that become attractive nuisances (e.g., used for illegal dumping or harboring rodents) may trigger additional health and safety provisions under Title 9 (Health & Sanitation). Owners have the right to administrative review or a formal appeal of either the abatement charges or the civil penalty.