The Anne Arundel County Government consists of Departments and Offices as well as Boards & Commissions. These entities work together to serve our Citizen's needs.
With almost 54,000 businesses, Anne Arundel County is a major hub of commerce and development. With a $35 billion economy, low taxes, a vast multi-modal transportation system, highly skilled workforce and excellent educational institutions, Anne Arundel County is the premier location to do business.
Each year during the spring/summer season, the Department of Public Works receives over 1400 requests for enforcement of the Weeded Lot law. Article 13, Title 6, of the Anne Arundel County Code states that a homeowner, occupant, or person in control of real property may not allow or maintain on their property a growth of weeds or grass that is 12 inches or higher.
In response to the rapid onset of COVID-19 pandemic, and pursuant to Emergency Executive Order # 17 which suspends any legal or procedural deadlines described in the Anne Arundel County Code, the Department of Public Works has suspended enforcement of the the Weeded Lot Law.
If a complaint regarding a potential weeded lot violation is filed with the Department, it will be investigated once the Civil Emergency in Anne Arundel County is lifted by the County Executive.
To report a weeded lot, please call (410) 222-7582. We are available to take your call Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
You may also submit your request using the Contact DPW form. Please indicate your request as a weeded lot and include a physical address in the comment section. Questions regarding this legislation should be directed to Bureau of Highways Administration at (410) 222-7321.
Once a call is received, an inspector is sent to investigate the request to verify that the property is in violation of County Code §13-6. If the property is found to be in violation, the inspector posts a copy of the violation letter, stating that the property needs to be cut in order to be in compliance with the notification requirements stated in County Code §13-1-103 . This is done to give the resident as much time as possible to comply with County code. Within the next twenty four business hours the same letter is mailed to the property owner via regular and certified mail. A second certified letter is mailed three days later. The owner is given seven days to comply. If the property is still not in compliance with the time provided, the County’s contractor will be sent to bring the property to compliance. The property owner is then invoiced for the cost of cutting including an administrative fee and overhead cost. The entire compliance process takes about three to four weeks.
Not paying the invoice could result in a tax lien on the property. It can cost a property owner as much as $500 each time they fail to cut their property. Additionally, this violation of the County Code carries civil penalties up to $1,000.
Exemptions
There are some exemptions to the weeded lot law such as
Agricultural property
Natural wooded areas
Areas publicly owned and preserved as natural areas, open space or for recreation
