Overgrown yard taller than 8 inches? You’re in violation of TH city code
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) – It’s no secret that plants and yards begin to grow during the spring, but one thing you’ll want to keep in mind is how long you let that yard grow.
The lawn mower is already rolling off the trailer getting ready for another season of work. Laurie Tharp with Terre Haute Code Enforcement said keeping yards in shape across the city is a daunting task.
“The city has a lot of properties that we maintain,” Tharp said. “A lot of vacant lots, a lot of condemned properties and it’s just easier if people maintain their own property and then we won’t have to come onto their property and cut it.”
If you let your grass grow longer than eight inches, code enforcement will give you a notice that you’re in violation of city code.
Tharp says around 80 percent of the yards they have to take care of are abandoned homes.
“It’s very frustrating, but it’s also understandable with the housing market the way it is,” Tharp said. “A lot of people left their properties and it’s just, you know, it’s a job that has to be done.”
That being said, some people do live in homes where the yard needs some attention, and Tharp said the people in those houses usually give them an excuse.
“When we approach a property, if somebody’s living there, they’re just getting ready to cut it,” Tharp said. “And I go, well that’s great, we made perfect timing then.”
But if you don’t have that perfect timing, you’ll have to pay $60 for a city lot plus another $15 in administrative fees.
Tharp said there is an alternative to the city cutting your grass.
“There’s all kinds of lawn maintenance businesses in town, and they’re very reasonable,” Tharp said. “And so if you’re having problem cutting the grass yourself, it’d be much cheaper and much more feasible for the average person to go ahead and hire somebody to cut it.”
Code enforcement will start regulating yards on May 1, all the way to Oct. 31.
Tharp said if your yard is in violation, they’ll place two notifications in the newspaper. After those two ads they’ll then go onto the property and cut the grass.