Grass and/or weeds in excess of eight inches in height are in violation of the nuisance section of the City Code. If a citizen request is received regarding a property in possible violation of this eight-inch rule, an inspection will be made of the property. If growth is in excess of the eight inches, the owner or person in control of the property will be notified by telephone of the violation. The person is allowed five days to eliminate the violation.

If the owner fails to act within the five-day period, a private contractor will be hired and the violator will be billed the cost of the work plus a $25 administrative fee. Costs for removal will be forwarded to the City Clerk's office for billing and collection. If an owner fails to pay the charges for mowing, the costs will be assessed to the property through the Linn County Assessor's Office.

In addition, if the owner has previously received a notice to abate nuisance relating to tall grass and/or weeds within the preceding 24 months, then the notice to abate may include a notice that the property will be considered to be in habitual violation of the weed ordinance. 

If the nuisance is not abated within the allotted time frame, the City will consider the property to be in habitual violation of the weed ordinance and subject to having a contract let by the City for mowing the property as needed, up to a weekly basis, for the next 24 month period. The full costs of this contract and a $250 administrative fee will be assessed against the property.

You may also wish to review the Weeds section of the City Code.