Weeds & Lawn Care

New Urban Landscape Ordinance

In 2010, the Red Wing City Council gave the Sustainability Commission the responsibility of developing a new "weed" ordinance. From that, the Urban Landscape Ordinance was created. The first and second readings of the Ordinance occurred at the regular City Council meetings on March 14th and March 28th. Following the second reading, Council adopted the new ordinance which will go into effect April 16th, 2011.

Changes to the Ordinance will largely affect undeveloped residential and commercial lots. However, an addition to the Ordinance concerning watering of lawns could affect all properties.

Water Usage

Watering of traditional residential lawns by lawn sprinkler between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. and also between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. will be prohibited in order to conserve water and discourage turf disease. Exceptions may be made for newly-sodded/seeded lawns. In addition, the City will retain the right to restrict public water usage as deemed necessary. There are certain areas that will be exempted from these regulations such as parks, playing fields, golf courses, rain gardens, public schools, designated floodplains or wetlands, natural landscape, and garden areas. View a complete list in the Urban Landscape Ordinance (PDF) below, or contact the Public Works Office at 651-385-3674.

Weeds Mowing

Each year, the Public Works Department receives complaints about areas not compliant with the ordinance that establishes guidelines for maintaining weeds and grass. For privately-owned property, Red Wing's Urban Landscape Ordinance identifies the duty of property owners to maintain any weeds or grass at a maximum height of six inches. In the event a lot is not mowed and is found to be in violation of Ordinance, City crews will post a notice of violation on the property once per growing season, and request that weeds be taken care of within fourteen days of the notice being posted. If the lot remains unmowed, City crews or their designated contractor can enter onto the property, mow it, and all costs incurred will be forwarded to the property owner.

Following the initial notice of weed violation, if the lot again becomes non-compliant at any time during the remainder of the growing season, City crews or their designated contractor can again enter onto the property without additional notice, mow it, and all costs incurred will be forwarded to the property owner.