Richmond prohibits weeds and grass exceeding 12 inches in height on vacant or occupied lots and treats overgrowth as a public nuisance.
Under Richmond's nuisance code in Chapter 22, property owners are required to keep weeds and grass under 12 inches in height. Overgrown vacant lots may also harbor rodents, snakes, and trash, compounding the nuisance violation. The city issues notice to abate, and if the owner fails to act, contractors mow the property and bill the owner. Agricultural-use lands may be exempt from this requirement.
Allowing grass over 12 inches results in citation, mandatory mowing, and possible liens for city-performed abatement and administrative fees.
See how other cities in Fort Bend County handle vacant lot maintenance.
See how Richmond's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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