Lawn and Grass Clipping Nuisance

Highlights

• The City of Maple Plain follows Minnesota state statute 412.925 Native Landscpes more info on the statutes can be found HERE.
• Under City code sec. 6-28, Grass/weeds cannot exceed eight inches of growth, and depositing lawn clippings in the street is a condition and declared a nuisance.
• Under City code sec. 6-34, Noncompliance with the nuisance or repeat violations will result in an immediate hazard abatement. The resident will be charged to get their property into compliance with City code 6-28.

Sec. 6-28. - Specific conditions and acts declared a nuisance.

(3)All noxious weeds, tall grasses, and other rank growths of vegetation which are in violation of state statutes which regulate and/or control growth of weeds and other vegetation and the following:

a. It shall be the responsibility of all homeowners and landowners to cut grass in excess of the following height and to maintain real property within the City at or below this level of growth:

1. Residential, developed land: eight inches of growth.
2. Commercial/industrial, developed areas: eight inches of growth.
   Subsections (3)a.1 and 2 of this section shall not apply to plantings that are of a type and variety of grass or mixture of grass and flowers that promote insects for pollination or are native plantings; provided, however, that none of the plantings are noxious weeds. Native plantings shall be those plants that are plant species that were growing in the state's biomes when European immigrants first arrived in the state.

b. 

1. Should the owner fail to cause removal of the weeds, tall grasses, or other rank growths, the City may cause and shall assess the cost of the removal to the property, collectible with taxes through the county.
2. Because weeds, tall grasses and other rank growths create an immediate and increasing nuisance, the City is authorized to cause their removal after seven days written notice to the property owner or occupant. If the property is unoccupied, the notice shall be posted at the property for the same period of time.

(33)Throwing, placing, depositing, or burning leaves, trash, lawn clippings, weeds, grass, or other material in the streets, alleys, gutters, or drainage swales.

Sec. 6-34. - Immediate hazard abatement.

Without need for prior notice, if in the opinion of the official charged with the enforcement of this Code the nuisance complained of constitutes an immediate hazard, one that is a threat to the life, health, safety, or welfare of any person or property, the Officer shall, in addition to compliance with the other provisions of this Code, abate the hazardous conditions by whatever means said officer deems proper taking into consideration the nature and extent of the hazardous condition involved.