In Durham, dense weeds, grass, vines, or briars over 12 inches tall within 100 feet of a public street or 50 feet of a building are a public nuisance. You must cut them to no more than six inches.
Durham City Code Sec. 26-183(2) sets the concrete threshold: a dense growth of weeds, grass, vines, or briars over 12 inches high, located within 100 feet of an abutting public street or 50 feet of a house or other residential, commercial, or industrial building, is a prohibited condition when it constitutes a nuisance under Art. VI. Detached accessory structures don't trigger the 50-foot measure. Once cited, the growth must be cleared and cut to not more than six inches in height. The housing code administrator mails and posts notice giving 10 days (extendable 10 more) to comply before the City mows and liens the cost.
Civil penalty $100 first day then $10/day; if not corrected in 10 days the City mows and recovers abatement cost plus 8% interest as a lien collected like unpaid property taxes.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Durham, NC
Durham caps daytime sound at 60 dBA (8 AM to 11 PM) and nighttime sound at 50 dBA (11 PM to 8 AM) under Ch. 26, Sec. 26-23. Measured at property line using A...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO Section 9.9 limits residential fences to 4 feet in front yards and 8 feet in side and rear yards. Corner lots face additional restrictions along s...
Durham, NC
Durham does not require a permit for most residential fences or walls. Permits are required for retaining walls, pool barriers on single-family parcels, prop...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO Section 9.9 sets general fence standards including setbacks, orientation, and vision-clearance rules. Fences between structures and streets within...
Durham, NC
Durham requires a building permit for all retaining walls. Retaining walls over 4 feet at street frontage must be terraced in Design Districts. Walls over 8 ...
Durham, NC
Durham UDO 9.9 prohibits razor wire, concertina wire, and barbed wire in residential districts. Uncoated chain link is banned in CI and Design Districts.
See how Durham's weeds & overgrown grass rules stack up against other locations.
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