Oregon, OH Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Oregon Codified Ordinances §§ 915.01-915.04, 915.99
- Height limit, vacant lots
- Under 8 inches at street/improved borders
- Notice to cut
- 5 days after written notice
- Side/rear border width
- At least 6 feet
- Penalty
- Up to $100, per week
- Enforcing office
- Commissioner of Building and Zoning
Summary
In the City of Oregon, Ohio, every landowner must keep weeds, rank vegetation and uncontrolled grasses cut year-round. Vacant and unimproved lots must be kept under eight inches along street borders and adjacent improved property, and the Commissioner of Building and Zoning can order city crews to cut noncompliant lots and bill the owner after five days' notice.
915.01 DUTY OF PROPERTY OWNER. Any person owning or having charge of land within the City shall throughout the year keep the same free and clear from all noxious weeds, rank vegetation and uncontrolled grasses and shall cut or cause to be cut all such weeds, grasses and vegetation on the lots owned by him as is necessary to prevent such rank growth. ... 915.02 REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. ... On all other lots within the City, such weeds, grasses and vegetation shall be maintained at a height of less than eight (8) inches along the border of any street and any adjacent improved property. ... 915.03 NOTICE TO CUT. Upon information that such rank vegetation exists or uncontrolled grasses or noxious weeds are growing on lands in the City greater than eight (8) inches, the Commissioner of Building and Zoning shall cause notice to be served on the owners that such weeds, grasses and vegetation must be cut or destroyed within five (5) days after the date of such notice. ... 915.99 PENALTY. Whoever violates any provision of this chapter ... shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each offense.
Full Breakdown
01. 02 sets the numeric standard: improved platted subdivision lots and commercially zoned property must keep growth under eight inches on the entire lot, while vacant, unimproved and other lots need only be kept under eight inches along the border of any street and any adjacent improved property, with front yard borders extending to the building line or average setback (or twenty feet from the right-of-way where no setback exists) and side/rear borders at least six feet wide. 03. 03, once the City learns that growth on a lot exceeds eight inches, the Commissioner must serve the owner written notice, by personal delivery, leaving a copy at the residence or business, or regular mail, giving five days to cut or destroy the growth; one notice per growing season suffices for repeat offenders.
04 lets the Street Department cut the lot and the Assessment Supervisor bills the owner for the full cost including labor, equipment, overhead and notification, with unpaid charges certified to the Lucas County Auditor for collection as a property assessment.
Violations & Fines
Section 915.99 sets a general penalty of up to $100 for each violation of Chapter 915, and treats each week that noncompliant growth is allowed to continue as a separate offense, so a lot left uncut for multiple weeks can accumulate repeated $100 penalties on top of the City's cost-recovery assessment for cutting the lot itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get on a vacant lot in Oregon, Ohio before it's a violation?
What notice does the City give before cutting a vacant lot?
Who pays if the City has to mow an overgrown vacant lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oregon
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