In order to keep Overland Park an attractive place to live and work, the city has adopted minimum requirements for mowing or trimming grass and other vegetation on private property.
How tall can your grass or weeds be before it is a violation?
A violation exists when the weeds or grass are more than 10 inches in height (or more than 10 inches in length if matted down). A violation also exists if there is any vegetation that is poisonous to the touch, such as poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac. Other vegetation such as vines, saplings or shrubs may also be a violation if it exceeds the 10-inch height regulation and is clearly uncultivated.
Who is responsible for correcting the violation?
The violation should be corrected by the person responsible for the maintenance of the property. In most cases this is the property owner, but it may be the tenant or owner representative.
What area must be mowed?
In addition to the yard or lawn area, you must mow any area between your property and the paved area of all adjacent streets, including ditches, easements, alleys and unpaved right-of-way. Storm drainage swales, ditches or easements are also the maintenance responsibility of adjacent property owners.
How much time is allowed to correct a violation?
The violation must be corrected in five calendar days if the property owner resides within the state or 10 days if he or she resides outside the state, starting from the date on the Notice of Abatement. If legal publication of the notice is necessary, you have 10 days from the date of publication.
What is the penalty if I fail to correct the violation?
If the owner does not correct the violation after proper notification, the city will issue a work order to mow the property. The owner is responsible for the contractor's hourly rate plus a $100 administrative fee. Properties that are cut after notification to the contractor are also subject to the $100 administrative fee and a contractor's trip charge of $25. The property owner may also receive a notice to appear in court.
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