Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules (2026)

Top 25: Strictest Enforcement

Based on each city's weed and nuisance vegetation ordinance, including height limits, response timelines from complaint to citation, fine structures, and whether the city performs forced mowing at the owner's expense.

1. 1

   Dallas, TXHeavy Restrictions12 inches

   Dallas Sections 18-13 and 18-14 require property owners to keep weeds below 12 inches and prevent vegetation from becoming a nuisance or fire hazard. Code Compliance handles enforcement through Dallas 311.

2. 2

   Grand Prairie, TXHeavy Restrictions10 inches

   Grand Prairie Ch. 29, Art. VI regulates high grass and weeds. Vegetation height restricted to 10 inches maximum. Property owners and tenants responsible for yard maintenance. 10-day notice to abate nuisance before city action.

3. 3

   Richardson, TXHeavy Restrictions12 inches

   Richardson's nuisance ordinance (Ch. 14) requires all property owners to control weeds. Vegetation exceeding 12 inches is a violation. The city abates non-compliant properties and charges costs to the owner.

4. 4

   Thousand Oaks, CAHeavy Restrictions

   Thousand Oaks requires property owners to maintain their properties free of weeds and combustible vegetation under the city's fire prevention and property maintenance codes. The Ventura County Fire Protection District conducts annual inspections.

5. 5

   Frisco, TXHeavy Restrictions

   Frisco Code Chapter 38 requires property owners to remove noxious weeds and tall vegetation. Ragweed, Johnson grass, and invasives must be controlled.

6. 6

   Bellaire, TXHeavy Restrictions12 inches (same as grass)

   Bellaire requires property owners to control weeds on their property as part of general vegetation maintenance. Weeds exceeding 12 inches are treated the same as overgrown grass and trigger code enforcement action. The city may abate weed violations and charge property owners.

7. 7

   Clark County, NVHeavy Restrictions10,000 dollars per day

   Clark County enforces weed abatement under Title 10.30 plus Regulation 41 dust control. Tumbleweeds and cheatgrass over 6 inches are cited quickly; dust from lots over 5,000 sq ft needs a Dust Control Permit.

8. 8

   Coral Gables, FLHeavy RestrictionsUp to $500

   Coral Gables requires all properties to remain free of weeds, overgrown vegetation, and unkempt landscaping as part of its City Beautiful standards. Code Enforcement actively patrols for property maintenance violations and responds to complaints seven days a week. Unmaintained properties face escalating fines and city abatement at the owner's expense.

9. 9

   Boulder City, NVHeavy Restrictions

   Boulder City declares overgrown weeds, dry brush, and rubbish on private property a public nuisance and can abate at the owner expense.

10. 10

    Garland, TXHeavy Restrictions

    Garland classifies overgrown weeds, brush, and rank vegetation over 12 inches as a public nuisance subject to city abatement, with separate provisions targeting noxious species and harborage for vermin.

11. 11

    Murrieta, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Murrieta enforces mandatory weed abatement each spring and summer under its nuisance and fire hazard provisions. Property owners must clear dry vegetation, tumbleweeds, and combustible weeds to reduce wildfire risk, particularly in the hillside and wildland-urban interface zones common to western and southern Murrieta.

12. 12

    Deer Park, TXHeavy Restrictions12 inches maximum

    Deer Park requires all property owners and occupants to keep lots free of excessive weeds, brush, and rank vegetation under Chapter 34 of the Code of Ordinances. Weeds exceeding 12 inches in height constitute a nuisance. The city enforces proactively with drive-by inspections and through citizen complaints. Failure to abate results in city-contracted mowing at the owner's expense with costs secured by a property lien.

13. 13

    Tomball, TXHeavy Restrictions12 inches for weeds and vegetation

    Tomball's Chapter 34 (Health and Sanitation) requires property owners to control weeds, rank vegetation, and unsanitary conditions on their property. Weeds and vegetation exceeding 12 inches are considered a nuisance. The city can abate the nuisance at the owner's expense and place a lien on the property for unpaid costs.

14. 14

    Evanston, ILHeavy Restrictions10 inches

    Evanston's property maintenance code requires owners to control weeds and maintain vegetation below 10 inches. The city treats overgrown weeds as a public nuisance and enforces compliance through its Code Enforcement division. Properties not brought into compliance within 7 days of notice may be abated by the city at the owner's expense.

15. 15

    Oak Park, ILHeavy Restrictions$200-$400+ billed to owner

    Oak Park requires property owners to control weeds on their property. Noxious weeds and invasive species must be eradicated. Properties with excessive weeds receive violation notices and may be abated at the owner's expense, similar to grass height enforcement.

16. 16

    Omaha, NEHeavy Restrictions

    Omaha requires grass, weeds, and rank vegetation to be kept under 12 inches, with city abatement and lien authority for uncut lots under Chapter 18.

17. 17

    Dublin, OHHeavy Restrictions8 inches

    Dublin declares noxious weeds and vegetation over 8 inches a public nuisance under Code Chapter 660. Property owners must cut and remove noxious weeds such as Canada thistle, poison hemlock, and giant hogweed.

18. 18

    Humble, TXHeavy RestrictionsUp to $500 per day

    Humble Code of Ordinances treats excessive weeds as a public nuisance that must be abated by the property owner. Weeds, rank vegetation, and overgrown areas that create health hazards, harbor vermin, or detract from neighborhood appearance are subject to enforcement. Property owners receive notice to clear weeds within a specified timeframe, typically 10 days. Failure to comply authorizes the city to perform abatement and charge the property owner. Code Enforcement at (281) 446-4331 actively enforces weed standards.

19. 19

    Mission Viejo, CAHeavy Restrictions

    Mission Viejo requires property owners to keep their lots free of weeds and dead vegetation as part of nuisance abatement and fire prevention efforts. The city participates in Orange County Fire Authority weed abatement programs targeting overgrown lots.

20. 20

    DeSoto, TXHeavy Restrictions

    DeSoto's weed ordinance prohibits accumulation of noxious weeds, uncut grass, rank vegetation, and overgrowth that creates a public nuisance or fire hazard. Grass and weeds over 12 inches constitute a

21. 21

    Livonia, MIHeavy RestrictionsOver 8 inches

    Livonia prohibits noxious weeds and unchecked weedy vegetation taller than 8 inches, with inspection notices, abatement, and tax lien recovery under state law.

22. 22

    Westland, MIHeavy RestrictionsCity contracts mowing

    Westland declares noxious weeds and grass over 8 inches a public nuisance, requiring removal by owners or facing city abatement and lien on the property.

23. 23

    San Bernardino, CAHeavy RestrictionsCounty contractor clears lot at owner expense

    San Bernardino County Fire runs a mandatory annual weed abatement program in city fire hazard areas. Owners must clear dry weeds each spring or face county-contracted abatement billed as a lien.

24. 24

    Mount Vernon, NYHeavy Restrictions

    Mount Vernon Chapter 170 requires properties be kept free of noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation. Typical threshold is 10 inches; city abates and liens violators.

25. 25

    Memphis, TNHeavy Restrictions

    Memphis requires grass and weeds to be kept below 10 inches. Overgrown lots are cited under the property maintenance code, and unresolved violations are abated by the city with the cost added to the property-tax lien.

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How each state leans overall, based on the cities and counties we have data for in that state.

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