Santa Fe, NM Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

#1983-30), governs every lot in the city, whether it is built on or sits vacant. 2 declares the growth of weeds, as defined and regulated by the ordinance, a nuisance under Section 3-18-17 NMSA 1978, the state statute authorizing municipalities to abate weed nuisances. 3 defines "weeds" as weeds, grass, brush or other vegetation exceeding twelve inches in height with a stem diameter under two inches, and specifically names bindweed, Canada thistle, perennial sowthistle, Russian knapweed, common ragweed, milkweed, dandelion, Russian thistle (tumbleweed), fireweed, mustards, sandburs and hairy stickweed, along with any other growth injurious to public health, welfare or safety.

Flower gardens, shrubbery plots, vegetable gardens, native landscaping vegetation and small grain plots are expressly carved out of the definition, so a xeriscaped or native yard is not automatically in violation. 4 sets the operative prohibition: no owner, lessee, agent, occupant or other person in possession or control of any occupied or unoccupied lot or tract of land may permit or maintain weeds over twelve inches with a stem diameter under two inches, or weeds that, because of dry condition or dense growth, create a fire hazard or danger to public health, welfare or safety, on the lot itself or along the abutting sidewalk, street or alley.

The rule reaches owners of unimproved and vacant parcels just as it reaches occupied residential and commercial lots, and it applies without a separate notice-and-abatement step spelled out in Section 10-3 itself, unlike the city's broader nuisance-abatement chapter at Section 10-9.