Too early to mow? See these St. Louis area lawn laws
ST. LOUIS — What times are you allowed to mow your lawn in Missouri? The legal guidelines for lawn maintenance come up every once in a while. You may have Googled it when a neighbor fired up their lawn mower before breakfast.
St. Louis City:
In St. Louis City, you can use lawn equipment from 7 a.m. until sunset without violating any noise ordinances.
According to St. Louis City ordinance Chapter 11 on weeds, any tall unwanted plants such as Russian thistle, Canadian thistle, wild lettuce, wild mustard, wild parsley, ragweed, milkweed, ironweed, and other harmful plants or shrubs, as well as any unsightly shrubs, trees, or seedlings, are deemed problematic.
The city mandates the removal of these plants and shrubs if they exceed seven inches in height. Property owners are responsible for maintaining their land free from these plants by cutting them down, using approved chemicals, digging them up, or employing any other method endorsed by the city’s Forestry Commissioner.
Failure or refusal to comply with the city ordinance will result in the Forestry Commissioner issuing the owner a written notice. Property owners may also face penalties for neglecting to address the public nuisance.
St. Louis County:
Daytime hours designated for cutting grass span from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in St. Louis County. According to Chapter 625 of the noise ordinance, lawn care equipment can only be operated before 7 a.m. if its sound is modified to meet specified standards.
The ordinance says: “The operation of lawn care maintenance equipment with sound control devices equivalent to or better than original equipment from 7:00 a.m., prevailing local time to sunset.”
Chapter 619 of the St. Louis County ordinance focuses on weed control regulations once lawn maintenance begins. All grass must be maintained at a height below eight inches, as failure to do so could lead to the county declaring the lawn a public nuisance.
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However, there’s an exception for ornamental grasses. The ordinance explicitly states that the cultivation and maintenance of ornamental grasses do not violate the weed control regulations. Ornamental grasses include a variety of species, such as arrhenaherum, arundo, bouteloua, and many others.
Property owners are responsible for eradicating weeds using approved methods, such as chemicals or manual removal, as outlined in Section 619.010.
Common weeds found in the St. Louis area include Goose Grass, Bermudagrass (Bermuda), Yellow Nutsedge (Nutsedge), Dandelion, Plantain, Chickweed or Starwort, and White Clover.
Chesterfield:
In Chesterfield, the operation of heavy equipment such as bulldozers and air compressors near residences is permitted only during daytime hours. On weekdays, daytime hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and on Saturdays, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Operating heavy equipment is strictly prohibited on Sundays within 1,000 feet of any residence in Chesterfield.
Failing to maintain your lawn to keep it under 10 inches tall, or allowing certain nuisance plants or weeds to grow in a manner that disturbs others or poses a danger to their health or safety, can result in penalties.
However, you are permitted to cultivate taller native plants, ornamental grasses, or shrubs, as well as vegetable or flower gardens, provided they are well-maintained, kept away from property lines, and do not create issues for neighboring properties.
Kirkwood:
Kirkwood’s noise ordinance does not specify when lawn equipment can be used. However, the overarching theme throughout the Offenses Concerning Public Peace ordinance is that loud noises should not commence before 7 a.m.
Weeds exceeding seven inches in height on private property are prohibited. This regulation applies to all privately owned property, even those with public easements, such as street rights-of-way.
Properties containing debris such as weed cuttings, fallen trees, overgrown plants, or trash, including items like rocks, broken furniture, or flammable materials that pose a potential danger, are considered public nuisances.
Town and Country City:
You’re permitted to use power lawn mowers and leaf blowers between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in the city, except on Sundays, when operations can commence at 9 a.m.
If you own, rent, or occupy property within the city limits, it’s your responsibility to ensure that weeds and grass on your property or on the adjacent street do not exceed eight inches in height.
However, in parks and open spaces, weeds, brush, or natural vegetation are allowed to grow up to 12 inches tall.
Florissant:
In Florissant, there are no specific regulations in the noise ordinance regarding the operation of lawn equipment. However, the overarching principle outlined in the Offenses Concerning Public Peace ordinance is that loud noises should not commence before 7 a.m.
Florissant considers weeds exceeding eight inches in height as a public nuisance, and property owners may face fines for failing to maintain their lawns accordingly.
Additionally, Florissant identifies invasive, non-native exotic plant species as potential nuisances. Property owners are responsible for removing these plants from their property, or they may face fines. The ordinance specifies 29 illegal plants that could result in fines if not addressed.
University City:
In University City, the noise ordinance does not specify when lawn equipment can be used. However, the consistent theme throughout the Offenses Concerning Public Peace ordinance is that loud noises should not commence before 7 a.m.
Residents are encouraged to maintain cleanliness on their property and nearby public areas by removing weeds, leaves, tall grass, and litter. Weeds and grass should not exceed 7 inches in residential areas and 12 inches on vacant lots. It’s essential to dispose of any brush or litter responsibly, as burning trash is prohibited by city rules.
Webster Groves:
According to the Webster Groves FAQ page, loud noises or playing loud music is prohibited before 7 a.m. and after 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
Additionally, Webster Groves mandates that grass cannot exceed 10 inches in height. If the grass becomes excessively long or the lawn appears overgrown, homeowners may receive a letter requesting them to cut the grass and weeds.
Fenton:
In Fenton, there are no specific provisions in the noise ordinance regarding the operation of lawn equipment. However, the general guideline throughout the Offenses Concerning Public Peace ordinance is that loud noises should not begin before 7 a.m.
As per the city ordinance, weeds or grass should not exceed nine inches in height.
Creve Coeur:
It is against ordinance policy to use lawn mowers and other lawn equipment before 7 a.m. and after 9 p.m. on weekdays. However, on weekends, the permissible hours begin at 8 a.m.
According to city regulations, grass and weeds must not exceed seven inches in height, or else the property owner may face fines. Additionally, certain weeds such as cockleburs, thistles, ragweed, crown vetch, garlic mustard, purple loosestrife, and Johnson grass are prohibited from being grown within city limits.
The Department of Public Works maintains a list of permitted ornamental grass and native grass species that are legally allowed to be grown within the city.
According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, turf-type tall fescue or zoysia are recommended grass types for St. Louis. While tall fescue thrives in early spring but may struggle in hot weather, zoysia remains tan in early fall through late spring but fares well during the hot summer months.
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