Montgomery County, MD Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Height limit
- 12 inches within 15 feet of boundary
- Notice period
- 10 days to comply
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs
- Cost recovery
- Lien on property tax bill
- Violation class
- Class B violation
Summary
Montgomery County bans generalized weed growth and any plant growth over 12 inches tall within 15 feet of a property line on land in, or within 100 feet of, a recorded subdivision.
An owner, lessee, agent, and any other person in charge of land in a subdivision or within 100 feet of a subdivision must not allow: (a) The generalized growth of any weed; and (b) Any generalized plant growth more than 12 inches high within 15 feet of any property boundary.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-90: Montgomery County Code contains legislation effective through May 7, 2026 | Zoning Updated Effective: April 13, 2026 | COMCOR Regulations effective as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
County Code Chapter 58 makes it the duty of every owner, lessee, agent, or other person in charge of land in a subdivision (or within 100 feet of one) to keep the property free of generalized weed growth and to keep any generalized plant growth under 12 inches within 15 feet of a boundary line; trees, ornamental shrubs, flowers, and garden vegetables are exempted. The Department of Housing and Community Affairs enforces the chapter and can send written notice by mail or personal service directing compliance.
Violations & Fines
If the owner does not comply within 10 days of the Director's written notice, the Director may enter and remove the weeds or cut the growth and bill the owner; unpaid costs become a lien on the property tax bill, and any violation of the chapter is a class B violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule cover any overgrown yard in the county?
What happens if I miss the county's notice to clear weeds?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Montgomery County
Compare Montgomery County to another location·View the Maryland property maintenance overview
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