Weeds & Overgrown Vegetation

See also: Weed & Vegetation Code, Tree Protection Code

What Is It?

Our Weeds and Vegetation Code applies to weeds and vegetation on private property that overgrow onto any public right-of-way, including planting strips, streets, sidewalks, and alleys. Examples of vegetation are bushes and trees.

What It Isn’t

This ordinance does not cover:

• Overgrowth between private properties. Those issues should be settled between the property owners.
• Rodent (e.g., rat) infestation. Contact the Seattle-King County Health Department or call (206) 263-9566.
• Vegetation interfering with power lines. Contact Seattle City Light, call (206) 684-3000, or file a complaint on the City's service request app for mobile phones, Find It, Fix It.
• Vegetation that is a fire hazard. Contact the Seattle Fire Department or call (206) 386-1450.
• Overgrown vegetation on public property (unless it's immediately adjacent to or originates from private property). Contact the Seattle Department of Transportation, Street Maintenance Division, call (206) 684-7623, or file a complaint on the City's service request app for mobile phones, Find It, Fix It.
• Tree-cutting is regulated under a different set of rules found in the Tree Protection Code.

Rules to Follow

Our codes require that you:

• Trim or remove vegetation that overhangs or obstructs streets, alleys, or sidewalks. Allow an 8-foot clearance over sidewalks and a 14-foot clearance over traveled roads. See the Seattle Department of Transportation's Seattle Sidewalk Accessibility Guide for more information.
• Trim or remove vegetation that is a fire hazard.
• At intersections, trim so that the view of the intersection is not obstructed by vegetation. Trim any vegetation that interferes with the view of an intersection from 30 feet away.
• Clear vegetation from obscuring traffic signs as required by the Seattle Department of Transportation.
• Leave a 3-foot clear zone around fire hydrants as required by the Seattle Fire Department.
• Get a street use permit to prune or remove trees in the public right-of-way.
• Get a permit or exemption to remove vegetation from environmentally critical areas such as steep slopes or wetlands.

• Tip 611, Weed and Vegetation Enforcement

Read the Code

You can learn more about our weeds and vegetation rules on our Weeds and Vegetation Code page. You can also read the full text of the ordinance in our Seattle Municipal Code section 10.52.

Fines

The first-time penalty for violating this ordinance is $150. The penalty for additional violations is $500.