It can be frustrating if you have neighbors who aren’t cutting their grass. Before reporting your neighbor to the relevant authorities, you may like to have a word with your neighbor and find out why they aren’t cutting their grass. If your neighbor’s yard is looking unkept and their grass is long, there are some people you can call to help resolve the issue. This article will discuss who to call when neighbors don’t cut grass.
Who to Call When Neighbors Don’t Cut Grass
There are laws about lawn care, and homeowners and renters should keep their yards in good condition. This includes regularly mowing the law. You’ll be able to report your neighbor by phone or fill in an online form if you want to remain anonymous.
You can try contacting the following departments:
The Homeowners Association (HOA)
If you live in a community with an HOA, they may have rules in place about grass height. The HOA can talk to the neighbors about cutting their grass and potentially issue a fine if they don’t comply.
Having an unkempt yard may be grounds for eviction, especially if there is a lot of rubbish in the yard, which is attracting pests, creating a bad smell or if the yard looks unsightly. In some cases, invasive weeds can spread from neighboring yards.
The County
Some states have ordinances in place about grass height. This varies depending on where you live, but in general, grass shouldn’t be left to grow more than twelve inches on commercial properties.
The county or city government can be contacted to file a complaint about your neighbor. You can find a number to call online or visit your city’s town hall to discuss the issue. The county can talk to the neighbors about cutting their grass and potentially issue a fine if they don’t comply.
The Police
If you’re concerned that your neighbors may be incapacitated and unable to take care of their lawn, you can call the police to do a wellness check.
Phoning the police on a neighbor should be done as a last resort. Your local police will likely consider not cutting the grass to be a minor crime, and may feel that they have better things to do.
You should, therefore only call the police if you have tried to resolve the situation in other ways first.
Should I discuss the problem with my neighbor first?
It can be a good idea to try and speak with your neighbor before taking any action. There may be a perfectly good reason why they haven’t been able to cut their grass. For example, if they are elderly or have a disability, they may be unable to do it themselves.
In this case, maybe you could offer to help them or hire someone to do it for them. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, they may be more likely to listen to you and take action.
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to your neighbor yourself, you could ask a friend or family member to speak to them on your behalf. Alternatively, you could write a letter or an email expressing your concerns.
When speaking to your neighbor, it’s important to be polite and not accusatory. If your neighbor is unresponsive, or you don’t think they’ll take action, then you can contact the relevant authorities.
Bottom line
If you have neighbors who aren’t cutting their grass, it’s a good idea to talk to them first to find out why their yard has become so overgrown. If your neighbors are refusing to cooperate, there are some people you can call to help resolve the issue.
The HOA, the county, or the police can talk to the neighbors about cutting their grass and potentially issue a fine if they don’t comply. In some cases, people can even be evicted from their homes for having a messy yard, especially if it looks like a junkyard.