Stamford, CT Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Weed height limit
- 9 inches maximum
- Correction window
- 7 calendar days
- Daily fine
- $100 per day
- Enforcer
- Anti-Blight Officer
Summary
Stamford caps grass and weeds at nine inches and requires vacant lots to stay free of trash, debris and hazards under the city's Blighted Properties ordinance, enforced by the Anti-Blight Officer with daily fines.
Grass, weeds or similar growths shall not reach a height greater than nine (9) inches on any premises. Front yards shall not be allowed to deteriorate into unattended bare, dirt patches.(5)The planting strip fronting the premises shall be maintained in a safe condition, neat, mowed as necessary, and free of litter, poison ivy, ragweed, and other noxious plant.(6)Steps, walks, driveways, parking spaces and similar paved areas shall be maintained to afford safe passage under normal use and weather conditions. Any holes or other hazards that may exist shall be filled and necessary repairs andreplacement accomplished. All off-street parking facilities shall be swept as often as necessary in the determination of the Anti-Blight Officer.(7)Yards, courts and vacant lots shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation, and shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent accumulations of trash, garbage, litter, debris and rubbish.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).
Full Breakdown
Under § 146-45(a) of Stamford's Blighted Properties ordinance, grass and weeds on any premises, including vacant lots, cannot exceed nine inches, and yards, courts and vacant lots must stay clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage, trash, garbage, litter, debris and rubbish. The Anti-Blight Officer serves a written notice giving the owner seven calendar days to correct the condition; failure to comply triggers a $100-per-day civil fine that can become a lien on the property, enforceable the same way as a property-tax lien.
Violations & Fines
Weeds over nine inches, standing water, trash or debris accumulation, rodent harborage, or discarded appliances on a vacant lot left uncorrected past a seven-day notice draws a $100/day fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can weeds get on a vacant lot in Stamford?
What happens if I ignore a notice to clean up my lot?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stamford
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