Question on Law and Code of Colorado regarding Lawn Care

[Jester34]

What is the name of your state? Colorado Springs, Co 80911
Not really sure if my question goes here or somewhere else, and im not sure if this question will get me laughed off the forum or not, but in regards to colorado springs code and law on lawn care and maintanances, and when, how and how much time i would have to do my yard, how short it would need to be to not get a ticket and other forms in relation, would someone please explain this to where I am able to understand?

thank you,
J

 

[adjusterjack]

No, you won't get you laughed off the forum. Questions about city ordinances are valid.

It would help to know if you actually were cited. If you were, what was the code section number? Or have you just gotten a letter threatening a citation? If so, what was the code section number? Or did you just have somebody from the city come by and threaten you?

Details count.

Just know that cities are pretty serious about blight so your risk of a citation depends on the condition of your lawn and how ticked off your neighbors get when they look at it.

I would also help to see a photo of your yard. Post a photo on a hosting site and click on the rectangular icon to the left of the smiley face and insert the link.

Meantime, I am posting the city code so I can refer to it later:

http://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/m_index.php?book_id=855

 

[Jester34]

Ok, the letter in referance, i dont have it at the moment, but the Code Enforcer for (Not sure on spelling) Agriculture and development, sent a letter, stating if my lawn was not maintained and no larger than 1 to 2 inches above ground I would have legal action and need to appear before a judge. which is why Im asking on it. As for my neighbors....no offense to them, but if they have something to say on it, i seriously wish they WOULD come directly to me and say it, before calling code enforcement....truthfully I mean....Im not some hitman from the mafia, or some gang member...just a normal guy...and as far as im aware, i havent emitted any form of murderous aura...just too depressive...but no camera, but any time my grass gets 1 to 2 inches, i usuaully get some form of letter, in which i go outside when im able, cut my grass and have at it......Thought it was about time i seek some form of information/education on stuff such as lawn care and mantanance ordinances/code or some form of methods like that. To learn this way my neighbors dont have that right to complain later on. Knowledge is power, and not knowing something that important to feign a form of ignorance isnt truly acceptable. as far as the code or letter...think by now it got shredded but i probbly wont be able to find it all too easily....the image again no camera or way to get one....but basically the grass usually does get to the top of my shoes level and i stand 5 foot 7 ....not too sure on all that....and im not sure if thats anywhere near enough details? I do know that some or alot of my words are probably mispelled or mispernounced....so sorry on that one....

 

[LdiJ]

Ok, the letter in referance, i dont have it at the moment, but the Code Enforcer for (Not sure on spelling) Agriculture and development, sent a letter, stating if my lawn was not maintained and no larger than 1 to 2 inches above ground I would have legal action and need to appear before a judge. which is why Im asking on it. As for my neighbors....no offense to them, but if they have something to say on it, i seriously wish they WOULD come directly to me and say it, before calling code enforcement....truthfully I mean....Im not some hitman from the mafia, or some gang member...just a normal guy...and as far as im aware, i havent emitted any form of murderous aura...just too depressive...but no camera, but any time my grass gets 1 to 2 inches, i usuaully get some form of letter, in which i go outside when im able, cut my grass and have at it......Thought it was about time i seek some form of information/education on stuff such as lawn care and mantanance ordinances/code or some form of methods like that. To learn this way my neighbors dont have that right to complain later on. Knowledge is power, and not knowing something that important to feign a form of ignorance isnt truly acceptable. as far as the code or letter...think by now it got shredded but i probbly wont be able to find it all too easily....the image again no camera or way to get one....but basically the grass usually does get to the top of my shoes level and i stand 5 foot 7 ....not too sure on all that....and im not sure if thats anywhere near enough details? I do know that some or alot of my words are probably mispelled or mispernounced....so sorry on that one....

1 to 2 inches is extremely short for grass to be. Many people don't even cut their grass that low, let alone cut it when it gets that high. Either you are eyeball measuring wrong, or something else is odd here.

Most municipalities won't start sending letters until grass gets a foot high.

 

[HRZ]

It will be easier to keep your lawn trimmed and relatively weed free....and keep dated pictures of your lawn ...than it will be to debate the issues / fines if you get formally cited for violation of some law or code .

I once had a retired nice neighbor who literally trimmed his postage stamp size yard with shears and maintained it better than many a putting green ...and if your yard was not up to hIs minimum standards he'd make a complaint to City Hall ...let's just say I kept mine pretty well mowed and trimmed and weed free and the city inspector happy ....win win !

I think 1-2 inches is a wrong measure of good grass height too.
.

 

[FlyingRon]

A lot of grasses you're going to kill if you mow to 1-2". Bent grass/bermuda/zoysia can be done that height. Fescues, St. Augustine, and bluegrass want to be left longer.

 

[adjusterjack]

im not sure if thats anywhere near enough details?

It isn't.

The city code is long. Without a section number there is no way to advise you.

This is apparently happening more than once so something you are doing or not doing is annoying your neighbors and generating those letters.

Find the last letter or come back to this thread when you get the next one.

Or mow your grass more frequently.

Or call or visit the code enforcement office and ask what's wrong with your yard:

https://coloradosprings.gov/neighborhood-services/webform/code-enforcement-complaint-form

According to the code you can be fined up to $500 for each violation, so you need to take this seriously and be proactive about it.

 

[Taxing Matters]

1 to 2 inches is extremely short for grass to be. Many people don't even cut their grass that low, let alone cut it when it gets that high. Either you are eyeball measuring wrong, or something else is odd here.

Most municipalities won't start sending letters until grass gets a foot high.

I agree that something seems amiss here. 1 to 2 inches would be too short and moreover would be an unreasonable requirement. And that is not the rule. Rather, the rule in Colorado Springs appears to be that if the grass is more than 9" tall it is in violation of the Code. The relevant paragraph of ordinance 6.12.404 reads as follows:

It shall be unlawful for any person to allow conditions to exist which provide shelter or protection for rats, rodents or other vermin or which favor the propagation of rats, rodents or other vermin. Piles of rubbish (yard debris, leaf piles, trash, junk accumulation and building debris), garbage, weeds or grass over nine inches (9") tall and junk or unlicensed vehicles must be removed from the property. All garbage must be stored in solid containers with tightfitting lids and removed at least weekly. All animal feces must be removed from the exterior of the property every three (3) to seven (7) days. The Administrator has the discretion to order more frequent trash or animal feces removal.​

So a foot is too long, but it's got to be a lot longer than 2" to draw a citation. Moreover, the code enforcement officer is a position in the Colorado Springs police department; I don't even see a city department called Agriculture and Development on the city web site. If the OP's post is accurate, I would suspect some upset neighbor might be putting him on to get him to keep the grass as short as the neighbor wants.

 

[FlyingRon]

Also, keeping it longer (4") doesn't mean scalping it to 2" and then letting it grow up to 4" again. You want to do minimal cuts. At 4" you still need to mow it at least weekly when it's growing./