Springfield City Council amended an ordinance that requires property owners to maintain their lawn and keep grass and weeds under 10 inches.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Springfield City Council amended an ordinance that requires property owners to maintain their lawn and keep grass and weeds under 10 inches. The amendment allows the city to crack down on repeat offenders.

If a lawn grows past 10 inches, the City will send a notice to the property owner to remedy the issue within seven days. If the issue is not resolved by the eighth day, the City will send a third-party contractor to mow the land and bill the property owner.

Mayor Misty Buscher explained that the amendment is specific to habitual offenders. 

"At the second notice thereafter, we no longer have to send you something immediately and wait seven days. We just can go out and cut it so you get the one notice and then you're done," Buscher said. 

Fees for mowing residential lawns start at $250, and increase for larger properties like commercial or abandoned lots.

Residents have the opportunity to go to a hearing and protest their bill. Property owners over 65 get a one-time exception to waive the fee if they cannot mow their lawn.

If the fees stack up to over $1,000, the City will place a lien on the property to recoup taxpayer dollars spent on mowing.

The amendment will not go into effect immediately; the City is taking two weeks to inform the citizens of the change. 

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