Grass & Weeds

The Department of Code

Enforcement asks for your

cooperation in keeping your

neighborhood a clean and

pleasant place to live.

We want to help you, and all our neighbors, thrive.

But we can’t do it alone. We need the help of

neighbors like you!

Ways you can help:

Lead by example! Keep your yard mowed,

trash and debris picked up, bushes trimmed,

and house in good repair.

Help others! If you know someone who is

unable to perform basic property

maintenance, offer to lend a hand. Helping

others always delivers smiles.

-> The Good Samaritan Law (IC 34-30-26-

5) allows for certain actions on vacant

and abandoned properties. Mowing and

landscaping the yard and removing

trash and debris are protected.

Organize a neighborhood cleanup! We’re

happy to help you do this! Not only does it

make neighborhoods sparkle, it introduces

neighbors who may have otherwise never

met.

Contact us! If you see a suspected violation,

or have a problem property in your

neighborhood, please let us know. We’ll

never tell your neighbor who called.

• It’s dangerous! Tall grass and weeds

can block the line-of-sight for

motorists and pedestrians.

• It encourages the presence of bugs

and insects like ticks and mosquitos.

• It provides a home for pests like mice,

moles, raccoons and other rodents.

• Tall grass and weeds can aggravate

allergies.

• It provides cover for criminal activity.

• It collects trash and debris.

• Aesthetics - no one likes looking at it!

General Information If you have questions about city codes

or would like to request a city service,

please dial: 311 or 233-0311

Rev. 5.17.17 MJ

Contact Us!

Code Enforcement

13th Floor County-City Building

227 W. Jefferson Blvd.

South Bend, IN 46601

574-235-9486

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

8:00 AM - 4:45 PM

Website: https://www.southbendin.gov/

Tall Grass/Weeds and Uncontrolled Dumping

Photo Credit: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/animal-rodent-

goes-under-grass-70369.html

A grass and weed violation may be opened as a result

of:

• A citizen complaint or

• An inspector observing a violation while

patrolling his/her area

Process

The inspector will verify whether or not the grass and

weeds are nine (9) inches or taller.

◘ If the grass is not yet 9”, the inspector will

close out the case as “no violation”

If the grass is 9” or taller, the inspector will mark it as

“in violation” and a notice will be mailed to the property

owner.

The property owner is asked to mow his/her property

within 48 hours per City Ordinance 16-59.

The inspector will reinspect the property after 10 days

per Indiana Code 36-1-6-2.

◘ If the grass has been mowed, the inspector

will close out the case as “completed by owner”

If the grass is still taller than 9”, the inspector will send

the violation to the Parks Department for mowing.

After the Parks Department has mowed the grass and

weeds, Code Enforcement will bill the owner for work

performed and administrative costs PLUS issue an

ordinance violation ticket.

◘ If the owner fails to pay within 30 days, the

invoice and/or ordinance violation ticket is

referred to collections

Penalty Under Sec. 19-35, for every abatement completed by

the Parks Department, a $250 fine will be imposed. If

the property is under Continuous Enforcement, a

different fee structure applies.

Applicable City Ordinances (abbreviated):

16-53 Conditions Constituting Public Nuisances

(18) Trees, shrubbery, weeds, snow or other matter

obstructing public ways, or causing visual barriers which

create vehicular traffic or pedestrian safety hazards.

16-59 Removal of Vegetation

(a) Definitions. As used in this section, "weeds and rank

vegetation" means grass and weeds over nine (9) inches

high, but not including small trees and bushes.

(b) Notice. The Department of Code Enforcement shall give

forty-eight (48) hours notice, in writing, to remove from any

real or personal property within the City weeds and rank

vegetation.

(c) Failure to comply. Upon a failure to comply with a notice

issued pursuant to subsection (b), the Department of Code

Enforcement or an entity acting on behalf of the

Department of Code Enforcement may enter upon the

property to abate the violation of this section by cutting the

weeds and rank vegetation.

19-34 Consequences of failure to Comply & Continuous

Enforcement

(b) A continuous abatement notice will serve as notice to the

owner that each subsequent violation during the same

calendar year in which the initial notice of violation was

provided may be abated by the City without further notice.

Such notice shall comply with Indiana Code § 36-7-10.1-3.

Applicable Indiana Code (abbreviated):

IC 36-1-6-2 Local Government

Sec. 2. (a) If a condition violating an ordinance of a municipal

corporation exists on real property, employees or

contractors of a municipal corporation may enter onto that

property and take appropriate action to bring the property

into compliance with the ordinance. However, before

action to bring compliance may be taken, all persons

holding a substantial interest in the property must be given

a reasonable opportunity of at least ten (10) days but not

more than sixty (60) days to bring the property into

compliance. Continuous enforcement orders (as defined

in IC 36-7-9-2) can be enforced and liens may be assessed

without the need for additional notice. If the municipal

corporation takes action to bring compliance, the expenses

incurred by the municipal corporation to bring compliance

Designation

A property can be designated as under Continuous

Enforcement if:

• It is affirmed by the Hearing Officer at a

Code Enforcement Hearing

• It is added under the enforcement authority

of the Director of Code Enforcement

To qualify a property must have had:

• 2 completed abatements within

45 days

• 4 violation letters mailed within 60

days

A Continuous Enforcement Order is valid for two (2)

years. A new order may be issued at any time to

extend the Continuous Enforcement Order.

Abatement

Once designated as Continuous Enforcement, and

without additional notice to the owner, the order

allows for:

• Removal of trash and debris

• Mowing tall grass/weeds

• Trimming vegetation

• Boarding and securing the property

Penalties

Under Sec. 19-35, a continuous enforcement

property will be fined for each violation:

$500 for the 1st year

$750 for the 2nd year

$1,000 for the 3rd year

$1,500 for the 4th year and thereafter

Motorist and Pedestrian Visibility Issue: Corner Lot

(Can’t see cross street or sidewalk.)

See www.municode.com/library/in/south_bend/codes/code_of_ordinances for full ordinances, additional ordinances,

restrictions and information.